Explore "The Real Test" by H.C. McNeile on Textopian. Read with annotations and highlights.
"It depends entirely," remarked the Great Doctor, twirling an empty wine-glass in his long, sensitive fingers, "what you mean by fear. The common interpretation of the word -- the method which I think you would use to portray it on the stage" -- he turned to the Celebrated Actor, who was helping himself to a cigarette from a silver box on the table in front of him -- "would show a nervous shrinking from doing a thing: a positive distaste to it -- a probable refusal, finally, to carry out the action. And rightly or wrongly -- but very naturally -- that emotion is the object of universal scorn. But -- -- " and the Great Doctor paused thoughtfully -- "is there no more in fear than that?"
The Well-known Soldier drained his port. "It would be a platitude to remark," he said, "that the successful overcoming of fear is the highest form of bravery."