cowardliness

Updated: October 29, 2025

The patient man is made of a metal, not so hard as flexible: his shoulders are large, fit for a load of injuries; which he bears not out of baseness and cowardliness, because he dare not revenge, but out of Christian fortitude, because he may not: he has so conquered himself that wrongs cannot conquer him; and herein alone finds that victory consists in yielding.

Various - Character Writings of the 17th Century

Suppose one of them was to say, 'Richard Marston, I arrest you for It hardly mattered what. I felt as if I should have tumbled down with sheer fright and cowardliness. It's a queer thing you feel like that off and on. Other times a man has as much pluck in him as if his life was worth fighting for which it isn't.

Rolf Boldrewood - Robbery under Arms; a story of life and adventure in the bush and in the Australian goldfields