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"On the warrior's path, only three things are considered essential: loyalty, duty, and valor. We speak of knights who work loyally, knights who are faithful to duty, and knights who are courageous and strong. Warriors who combine these three virtues of loyalty, duty, and valor in one person are considered the knights of the highest order.
Knights of the highest order are rare, even in a group of a hundred or a thousand warriors. As for the distinction between knights who are loyal workers and knights who are faithful to duty, this constantly shows in their conduct and is easily discerned. It may be wondered whether the duty of a valorous man might be impossible to know in an era of peace like the present, when there is no war going on. That is not so, as I will explain.
Generally speaking, courage is not something that only appears when you put on armor, take up weapons, and fight in combat. The difference between the courageous and the cowardly can be seen in everyday life.One who is naturally valorous exercises loyalty and devotion to his employer and parents, and if he has any free time he studies literature and keeps up the practice of martial arts. He avoids personal luxury, and disdains to waste even a penny. He is not stingy, however, and spends his money freely when necessary.
Anywhere forbidden by the regulations of his employment, or disliked by his parents, he will avoid going even if he wants to. He will give up even those things that are hard to give up, just to avoid displeasing his employer and parents. He keeps fit, and because he wants to accomplish something significant in life he always takes care of his health, moderating his diet and avoiding drink. He also keeps warily aloof from sexual feelings, the foremost confusion of humankind, and he has a patient, tolerant attitude in respect to everything else.
All of these reflect the mentality of the courageous.
As for the cowardly, they merely feign respect for employers and parents superficially, without really caring for them. They do not avoid things forbidden by employers or disliked by parents; they even frequent places they should not go, and do things they should not do. Acting as they please, they habitually nap mornings and afternoons. They hate literary studies, and even if they practice martial arts they do not pursue any of them seriously. They just talk boastfully about skills they cannot really perform.
They are spendthrifts when it comes to useless crazes and fancy dining, but extremely stingy when it comes to necessities. They give no thought to the maintenance of the heirlooms they have inherited from their parents, much less to the replacement of other military equipment.
If they are sickly, they cannot enter active public service; mindless of the worry they cause their parents, they overeat, drink too much, and become addicted to sex. Wearing away yourself and your life like this is something that comes from a weak and immature mind unable to endure and tolerate things. This generally reflects the mentality of a cowardly knight. Therefore I say that the courageous and the cowardly can certainly be distinguished in everyday life." —Cleary, Thomas. "The Valiant." Code of the Samurai. Tuttle Publishing, 2021, pg. 46-47.
