The third of the cardinal virtues, if the first has to do with a mind that knows what is right, and the second knows is fair, is at first glance the most active. However, Fortitude as a virtue has less to do with physical strength and more to do with strength of character.
Fortitude is usually translated in ancient texts from ἀνδρεία (andreía); which considering that the default gender of most of this kind of language is male, might be rendered into modern English as 'manliness'. Immediately I can imagine all of the boofnuts who are reading this, all grunting. That does fully half of the population of the world a disservice because virtues can very much be displayed by both men and women. In fact we probably get our word Fortitude via the Latin 'fortitudo'; which again doesn't help us very much because it yet again boils down to strength.
Perhaps a better appreciation of what fortitude as a virtue encompasses is to look at all of the various ways in which it is displayed.
Courage for example is not an absence of fear. Fear is a very useful innate sense that tells us that a thing is dangerous and can cause us harm. If fear is the good sense that something is dangerous, then courage is facing the dangerous thing (which still might be very fearful) and then taking action in the face of the dangerous thing. Courage is facing the dangerous thing and doing it anyway. Fortitude is the virtue which powers the resolve to keep courage going.
That brings us to the second aspect of fortitude which is related to the first; that being forbearance, endurance, or long-suffering.
If you have a boxer in the ring who is very strong but unable to keep going, they will not have a very long boxing career. If you have someone who is able to stand up blow after blow, then they will likely do better.
Fortitude as a virtue has a lot to do with how one reacts to the uncertainty, intimidation, fear, obnoxiousness, drudgery, boredom, ennui, and pain, which is caused by the world, other people, and perhaps even ourselves.
To be fair, the kosmos can be a pretty cold place and it is reasonable to be fearful, annoyed, angry, disappointed, and sad, at circumstances, other people and one's self. Unbridled enthusiasm and cheerfulness simply might neither be appropriate or possible in the face of what is thrown at us. Fortitude is the virtue which honed, will keep us going. Fortitude is the virtue which allows one to look forward at a possible hope. Fortitude is the virtue which allows us to endure the unpleasantness of the world and other people and ourselves and to employ optimism.
It should be pointed out that fortitude is not doing a thing in the face of danger, if one has not rationally thought about it. Rushing headlong into a situation with no regard for the safety, well being, or feelings of another person or even one's self, is more foolhardy and reckless than anything else.
Someone who displays no fear or little fear when real fear is actually justified and appropriate, might be acting from a sense of confidence and bravado where it is not merited. Excessive pride or self-confidence leads to hubris and harm and damage being caused. I for instance am fearful of going swimming and live electricity. Water and electricity are both things which can kill me and I very much think that they should be respected and left well alone. Other people who have appropriate levels of skills should attend to those things; not me.
I should like to return to the aspect of fortitude which is that it in particular is the virtue which powers the resolve to keep on going. Fortitude is how people find the inner strength to stick it out when things are tough. It is the virtue which enables people to care for others, for extended periods of time (years and decades even) including when there isn't a commensurate level of gratitude. It is the virtue which looks forward to some task or goal or achievement which has to be worked for and then which demands one to apply one's self towards the fulfillment of that future task or goal or achievement.
Indeed without fortitude, it seems to me that although someone might have good intentions to do good and be good, or to do something, they probably won't stick at it very long and the task or goal or achievement will be left wanting.
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