From there, the quote nudges us to treat courage like a skill—something strengthened through use. Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics (c. 350 BC) argues that virtues are formed by habit: we become courageous by doing courageous acts, especially in manageable doses. Hikmet’s “small decisions” echo that classical insight, emphasizing repetition over innate temperament.
Seen this way, courage stops being a label some people “have” and others lack. It becomes a practice you can return to: speaking honestly, keeping a promise, resisting a minor temptation, or trying again after a small embarrassment—each one a rehearsal for harder days. [...]
