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In any age courage is the simple virtue needed for a human being to traverse the rocky road from infancy to maturity of personality. But in an age of anxiety, an age of her morality and personal isolation, courage is a sine qua non. In periods when the mores of the society were more consistent guides, the individual was more firmly cushioned in his crises of development; but in times of transition like ours, the individual is thrown on his own at an earlier age and for a longer period.

Rollo May#9

GrowthCourageFearSocietyMaturityTransition

About this quote

What does it mean?
Courage is essential for growing up, especially in anxious times where social guides are weak and individuals face crises alone.
In plain terms
You need courage to grow into a mature person, particularly when society does not guide you.
What can you take from it?
Develop courage to navigate life transitions alone.

Where it applies

  • adulthood transition
  • social instability
  • personal growth

Putting it to work

  • face anxiety directly
  • build independence

Questions to consider

  • When have you had to rely on your own courage?
  • What makes growing up hard today?

Another view

Some people thrive even without strong social guides.

More from Rollo May

  1. We define religion as the assumption that life has meaning. Religion, or lack of it, is shown not in some intellectual or verbal formulations but in one's tota…

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  2. Courage is the capacity to meet the anxiety which arises as one achieves freedom. It is the willingness to differentiate, to move from the protecting realms of…

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  3. In any discussion of religion and personality integration the question is not whether religion itself makes for health or neurosis, but what kind of religion a…

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