'I had to stifle an impulse to laugh. Surely 'cowardice' had nothing to do with his decision. Surely he had nothing so primitive and unmilitary as a will to live.'
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- The speaker rationalizes a character's survival instinct as something other than cowardice.
- In plain terms
- He thought surviving was not being scared but smart.
- What can you take from it?
- Reframe survival instincts as rational decisions.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Is staying alive brave?
- How do you judge fear?
Another view
Survival instinct is often just survival, not strategy.
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