Boldness

Thunberg's speech "Our house is on fire" in Davos (January 2019)

Boldness is the opposite of shyness. To be bold implies a willingness to get things done despite risks.[1]

For example, in the context of sociability, a bold person may be willing to risk shame or rejection in social situations, or to bend rules of etiquette or politeness. An excessively bold person could aggressively ask for money, or persistently push someone to fulfill a request.

The word "bold" may also be used as a synonym of "impudent"; for example, a child may be punished for being "bold" by acting disrespectfully toward an adult or by misbehaving.

Boldness as a philosophical virtue was admired by the ancient Greeks.[2]

Boldness may be contrasted with courage in that the latter implies having fear but confronting it.

  1. ^
    • Aquinas, Thomas (1485). "Question XXVII: Of Daring". Summa Theologica. Vol. II.2.
    • Aquinas, Thomas (2005). The Cardinal Virtues. Translated by Regan, Richard J. p. 116. Is boldness a sin? Boldness is an emotion. But emotion sometimes is moderated by reason and sometimes lacks the measure of reason, whether by excess or deficiency, and emotion is sinful in this respect.
  2. ^ Alexander, L., 62. Acts, in Barton, J. and Muddiman, J. (2001), The Oxford Bible Commentary Archived 2017-11-22 at the Wayback Machine, p. 1034