In my experience as CEO, I found that the most important

“In my experience as CEO, I found that the most important decisions tested my courage far more than my intelligence.” So spoke Ben Horowitz, a man who stood at the helm of great enterprises and faced the storms that humble even the wisest of leaders. In these few words lies a truth as ancient as leadership itself — that the true measure of a person is not the sharpness of their mind, but the strength of their courage. Intelligence may chart the path, but it is courage that dares to walk it.

In the old days, before the rise of industry and the hum of machines, the leaders of men were not judged by cleverness but by bravery. The kings of Sparta, the generals of Rome, the philosophers of Athens — all knew that knowledge without boldness is as useless as a sword without a hand to wield it. Horowitz, though born in the modern world of commerce and code, speaks with the voice of those ancient captains: the test of true leadership comes not in calculation, but in conviction — not in what one knows, but in what one dares to do when fear whispers “no.”

For every leader, there comes an hour when logic falters and numbers blur, when the wise counsel of others can no longer guide the way. It is in that moment that courage must take the throne. To decide is to act, and to act is to risk — reputation, wealth, perhaps even the faith of those who follow. Horowitz’s insight was not born in comfort, but in trial: the nights when he led a failing company, when layoffs and loss stood before him like specters, and the easy choice was to yield. Yet he did not. He learned that courage, not intellect, is the fire that keeps the enterprise alive when all else grows cold.

So it has always been. Consider the tale of Alexander the Great, who, though young and brilliant, was not immortalized for his clever strategies alone. His legend endured because he rode at the front of his armies, facing the arrows and the dust, embodying the courage he demanded of others. Or think of Abraham Lincoln, whose genius lay not merely in his words, but in his unflinching resolve to hold the Union together through the bloodiest of wars. Both men possessed intelligence, yes — but it was their courage to act upon their beliefs, even when the cost was immense, that carved their names into history.

In the realm of leadership, intelligence may help one avoid mistakes, but it is courage that creates greatness. The mind calculates risk, but the heart dares the impossible. The world reveres those who are brilliant, but it remembers those who are brave. And bravery, as Horowitz teaches, is not the absence of fear — it is the mastery of it. The greatest leaders, in business or in life, are those who make decisions with trembling hands yet unbroken will, who feel the weight of uncertainty yet choose the right path despite it.

Let this be the lesson, then: do not worship cleverness above character. For cleverness builds nothing lasting without the backbone to sustain it. Train your mind, yes — but temper it with resolve. When faced with hard choices, ask not only “What is smart?” but “What is right?” For the most important decisions — those that shape your destiny and touch the lives of others — will always demand courage more than intellect. The mind may find the path, but only courage can walk it through the fire.

In your own journey, whether you lead a company, a family, or your own uncertain life, remember this: wisdom begins in thought, but triumph begins in action. When fear rises, stand firm. When doubt surrounds you, move forward. The ancients would say that the gods favor the brave — and Ben Horowitz, in his modern tongue, says the same. For in the end, it is not the brilliance of your mind that defines your legacy, but the courage of your heart.

So let his words be your compass: in the face of hard decisions, be steady, be strong, and choose with courage. For those who dare, though they may stumble, will always rise higher than those who only think.