Courage and Faith

“A person who’s happy will make others happy; a person who has courage and faith will never die in misery.”

Last week, I mentioned this quote from Anne Frank’s Diary of a Young Girl that struck me. This week, I’d like to assess the second portion, which tells us that courage and faith are the keystones of a good life. Or, at least, that’s how I view it. I believe she would happily read an interpretation of her words.

Courage

Courage is bravery and moving in the face of adversity. It’s the strength and determination within ourselves to sweep aside difficulties — or at least try. When things frighten us, courage is what keeps us going. 

In some sense, students are expected to be courageous. They’re challenged in the classroom to speak when they aren’t talkative or to contain their energy to prevent disturbances. I recently had an excellent class discussion over other Anne Frank quotes. Overall, the students handled things well. They spoke up, sharing their thoughts and analysis. Before I knew it, we had talked for 50 minutes, and I thanked them for their courage. Naturally occurring courage, especially in the classroom, should be praised over performative courage (the forced kind). 

How do we know the difference? When courage looks like obedience, we’ve done something wrong. Educators (actually, everyone!) should develop students’ courage. That also means helping kids find their passions and goals. Courage formed under the duress of too many regulations or ruling by fear isn’t courage; that’s destruction. It might seem easier to browbeat rambunctious children into submission, but it doesn’t improve the long term situation. 

When students break their own barriers down by crafting well-formed essays or issuing an excellent presentation, that’s courage. Class discussions that run themselves are courage. Indeed, courage is necessary for learning. Students need endurance in the educational journey because it’s not easy. It shouldn’t be easy either. The role of education is to challenge beliefs and produce quality human beings. 

Faith

The faith part of the quote is tricky, and I wonder if Anne referred to religion, humanity, self, or all three? At a minimum, faith in oneself is important. To believe in our own capabilities is a form of self-respect. Internal faith and courage require one another. 

I also believe Anne Frank felt that humanity was mostly good. Later in her diary, she wrote, “In spite of everything, I still believe that people are really good at heart.” As World War II raged on and millions died, the inhabitants of the Annex were assisted by helpers like Bep and Miep. Faith in humanity was showcased by their courage. Believing in the good of others prevents much sadness. In our current climate of global distrust, this is the type of faith we need now.

Never Die in Misery

But all in all, courage and faith only improve life. A person who has both will “never die in misery.” Anne must have meant sadness and regret when she used the word “misery.” If an individual lived with no courage or faith, they’d have a crushed life — one of little note. Lying on their deathbed, this individual’s regrets might be tremendous. There’s so much being missed if you let fear stop you. Life is exciting because each tiny moment is irreversible. It’s only with courage and faith that we can reach the end and be satisfied.

I’m reminded of a Second Pass article about living life absurdly. Take chances. Be bold. And have faith. Whether there’s God(s) or not, make this life an amazing one. Right, Anne?

I read this article (“A Way to Teach Courage in the Classroom”) after writing this post. It’s a great summary of a high school lesson. I have faith that there are others with a similar mindset.