Miscellanies 7.11.66

If, then, cowardice arises from ignorance of what is fearful and what is not, is not the one who knows alone confident, recognizing the goods that are and those that will be, and knowing along with them, as I said, what is not truly fearful? Knowing that vice alone is hostile and destroys those who are advancing toward knowledge, he makes war on it, fortified with the Lord's armor. For if something comes about through folly and the devil's activity, or rather cooperation, it is not for that reason at once the devil or folly (for no activity is prudence: prudence is a disposition, and no activity is a disposition). Neither, then, is an action that comes about through ignorance already ignorance; it is vice through ignorance, but not ignorance itself; for neither passions nor sins are vices, although they come from vice. No one, then, who is courageous without reason is one who knows; otherwise let someone call children courageous, who face fearful things in ignorance of what is dreadful (they touch even fire), and let them call virtuous the wild beasts that rush against spears, being courageous without reason. Perhaps in this way they will also call courageous the conjurors who tumble onto swords, practicing a mischievous art learned by experience for a wretched fee. But the one who is truly courageous, with danger plainly before him because of the hostility of the many, boldly accepts everything that comes. In this he is distinguished from others who are called martyrs: some provide occasions against themselves and throw themselves into dangers, I do not know how (for it is right to speak charitably), while the others hold themselves back according to right reason and then, when God truly calls, give themselves eagerly, and “confirm their calling” by being conscious of no rashness in themselves, and offer their courage to be tested as true, rational courage.