I have a lot of courage. I'm a realist.

In a voice of quiet strength and self-awareness, Elisabeth Röhm once declared: “I have a lot of courage. I’m a realist.” At first, these words may seem simple, even modest. But beneath them lies a profound truth — that courage and realism are not opposing forces, but eternal companions. To be truly brave is not to deny hardship or shield oneself with illusions, but to face life as it is — clear-eyed, unsparing, and steadfast. Röhm’s words remind us that true courage is not the absence of fear, but the ability to meet reality with an unflinching heart.

Elisabeth Röhm, the actress and writer, spoke from the lived understanding of struggle and perseverance. Known for her strength both on and off screen, she has spoken openly about resilience, motherhood, and personal challenges. Her statement arises not from pride, but from truth: it takes courage to be a realist. For the realist does not dream away pain, nor pretend that the world is gentler than it is. They look upon the storms of life and still choose to stand. Such realism is not cynicism — it is the wisdom that accepts imperfection without surrendering hope.

Throughout the ages, the ancients have understood that the greatest heroes are not those who live in dreams, but those who endure reality with dignity. The Stoic philosophers, like Marcus Aurelius, taught this very principle: to see the world clearly, to accept what cannot be changed, and to act rightly within what can. “Do not hope for a world without suffering,” they said, “but strengthen yourself to bear the world that is.” Such is the courage of the realist — to look upon the truth, however harsh, and not despair. It is easy to be brave when blind to danger; it is divine to be brave while fully aware of it.

Consider the story of Florence Nightingale, who, during the Crimean War, walked into hospitals of death and disease. She saw reality in all its cruelty — the filth, the pain, the neglect — yet she did not look away. Her realism did not destroy her spirit; it ignited it. Because she understood the truth, she was able to change it. She faced what others denied, and through courageous realism, she transformed the suffering of thousands into hope. Her life stands as proof that courage rooted in truth is the strongest force in the world.

Röhm’s words echo this same spirit in our modern age. In a time when many seek escape through illusion — through denial, comfort, or distraction — to claim realism is itself an act of rebellion. To say “I am a realist” is to proclaim, “I will not hide from life.” And to say “I have a lot of courage” is to add, “Yet I will still choose to live fully.” The realist’s courage is quiet and enduring — not the roar of the warrior on the battlefield, but the steady pulse of one who rises each morning, accepts the world’s imperfections, and chooses to act with strength and grace nonetheless.

But realism without courage can become despair, and courage without realism can become folly. The two must walk hand in hand. The one keeps the heart brave; the other keeps it wise. Together they form the soul of resilience — that noble quality that allows humans to endure suffering without losing faith, to face failure without bitterness, and to love the world even when it wounds them. Röhm’s words, brief though they are, contain this timeless balance: she speaks as one who has seen life clearly and still believes in its worth.

Let this then be the lesson passed down to those who come after: do not fear truth, and do not flee from what is real. Face the world as it is, not as you wish it to be. Look upon its beauty and its pain alike, and let both shape your wisdom. In your struggles, let realism anchor you and courage lift you. When hardship comes, say to yourself as Röhm did: I will not close my eyes, and I will not bow my head — for I have courage, and I am a realist.

For in the end, the bravest among us are not those who imagine a perfect world, but those who love and live steadfastly in the imperfect one — those who see truth in all its rawness, and still find within themselves the courage to carry on.