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Bravery

【Child’s Fear】A little boy had a part in the school play that read, “It is I, be not afraid.” He came out on stage and said, “It’s me and I’m scared.”

【Student’s Fear】Scrawled in a nervous hand across a blackboard at Southern Methodist University during finals week was this message: “We have nothing to fear, but F itself.”

【Thief’s Fear】A farmer looked out his window one day and saw several young fellows stealing watermelons from his field. He pulled out his gun and fired over their heads once or twice to scare the thieves off. Later, when the boys met, one said, “Did you hear those bullets?” Another replied, “I heard them twice, once when they passed me, and once when I passed them!”

The farmer accomplished his purpose, since fear kept the boys from further stealing. Fear is a powerful motive-directing behavior. Perhaps love is the most desirable motive, but fear will also do.