Choosing between courage and wisdom is a really tough choice. Can’t I just have it all? If I had to make a decision I guess I would rather be brave than smart. After all, how fun would life be if we never took stupid risks? Isn’t it fun to look back at our past mistakes and smile?

Quoting William Shakespeare, “A coward dies many times before their death” really makes sense to me. Hasn’t anyone been smart enough to pursue something they wanted but too scared to give it a try? An intelligent man who desires a woman will never get her if he lacks the courage to ask her out. At least the man with the courage has a shot, even if only a small one.

Some people might say the person with wisdom would always make the best decisions. I disagree with this statement whole-heartedly. I have learned most of the time people really don’t know what they want in life until they have experienced it. It’s sometimes fun to do something even if you think you are going to lose. You don’t always know the outcome in advance and wisdom can sometimes hold you back from trying. Would you choose your career based on what you’ve read in a textbook?

Having courage with little wisdom would make me feel like a child again. Everything was exciting. So much to do, the possibilities were endless. Kids aren’t afraid to make mistakes, they just have fun giving something a try. Even though Forest Gump was not a smart man he led an amazing life. Having lots of wisdom with little courage would make me feel like a frail old woman. We lose our carefree, unselfconscious, fearless attitudes as we age. It’s a shame. That’s why if I were to choose between these two traits I’d want to be young again.

In the end wisdom and courage go hand in hand. Gaining wisdom gives you courage and having the courage to try something gives you experience, which leads to wisdom. Lastly, a quote by Reinhold Niebuhr says it best, “God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference.” What would you rather be called, stupid or a coward?