One isn't necessarily born with courage, but one is born with

The luminous Maya Angelou, voice of strength and soul of wisdom, once spoke these immortal words: “One isn’t necessarily born with courage, but one is born with potential. Without courage, we cannot practice any other virtue with consistency. We can’t be kind, true, merciful, generous, or honest.” In this teaching, she unveils one of the oldest truths of the human spirit: that virtue, though divine in its aspiration, can only take root through the steadfast heart of courage. For what is kindness without bravery, or honesty without the daring to speak it? Courage is the foundation stone of all goodness, the breath that animates the soul’s higher callings.

In the ancient days, philosophers sought to name the cardinal virtues—wisdom, justice, temperance, and courage—but even among these, the wise knew that courage was the gatekeeper. Without it, the others crumble. To be kind in a cruel world requires strength; to be honest when lies rule requires boldness; to be merciful when wounded demands heart. Angelou, drawing from the depths of human experience, saw that while all are born with potential, only those who awaken courage within themselves can bring that potential to light. Thus, courage is not inherited—it is forged, choice by choice, in the fire of life’s trials.

She knew this not as philosophy, but as lived truth. As a young girl, Maya Angelou faced silence after trauma, a silence that lasted years. Yet within that silence, courage began its quiet work. When her voice returned, it did not whisper—it sang. Her courage gave birth to truth, and her truth gave hope to millions. From that seed of pain grew a forest of poetry, of wisdom, of power. Her life itself became the embodiment of her words: that courage is the mother of all virtues, and that from its womb, every act of goodness is born.

We see this reflected, too, in the lives of those who dared to stand where fear ruled. Think of Nelson Mandela, imprisoned for decades, who emerged not with hatred but with forgiveness. His courage allowed him to practice the greatest virtue of all—mercy. Or Harriet Tubman, who risked her life again and again to lead others to freedom. Her courage made generosity and justice living realities. Each of these souls, like Angelou, drew from an inner wellspring of bravery that turned potential into destiny.

In this, Angelou reminds us that courage is not the absence of fear—it is the mastery of it. The ancients said, “The brave man is not he who feels no fear, but he who conquers it.” Courage does not demand grand acts; it is found in the small, steadfast choices that shape our days. It is the student who speaks truth in the face of mockery, the parent who forgives, the worker who stands for integrity though it costs them comfort. Every act of goodness requires that moment of bravery—a refusal to yield to the easier path.

And what of potential? Angelou’s words declare that every soul is born rich with it, though few realize its power. Potential is the sleeping seed; courage is the sunlight that awakens it. Without courage, the seed lies dormant, dreaming but never growing. With it, life blooms in all its fullness. Thus, courage is not a virtue beside others—it is the force that gives them life, the steady pulse beneath every act of truth and love.

So let it be known, O listener of wisdom: cultivate courage, and you will find every virtue following behind. Begin small—speak truth when it trembles on your lips, stand firm when you would rather bow, forgive when your heart cries for vengeance. For these small acts, repeated with faith, will forge the iron of the soul. And from that iron shall be shaped the tools of kindness, honesty, mercy, and generosity that will change the world.

In the end, Maya Angelou’s words are not only teaching but invocation—a call to awaken the sleeping lion within each of us. Courage is not given by the gods; it is chosen by the heart. And when it is chosen, every other virtue rises beside it like dawn after the longest night. Thus, live with courage, and you will live with truth. Live with courage, and your potential will become purpose. Live with courage—and every act of goodness you sow will outlast your days and echo through the ages.