Encourage vs. Courage — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Urooj Arif — Updated on May 9, 2024
Encourage involves instigating someone to take action or persevere, whereas courage is the personal quality of being brave in the face of fear.
Difference Between Encourage and Courage
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Encourage typically refers to the act of giving support, confidence, or hope to someone, aiming to stimulate an action or attitude. Whereas courage is an internal trait that embodies bravery and the ability to confront fear, pain, or challenges.
In practice, to encourage someone might involve verbal support or actions that help someone overcome hesitations or fears, while courage is the personal possession of fortitude and determination that doesn't necessarily require external input.
Encouragement can be seen in various contexts such as personal relationships, workplaces, or during specific challenges, providing a boost to someone else's mental or emotional state. On the other hand, courage is often recognized in actions of valor or steadfastness in difficult situations, relying heavily on an individual's moral and emotional strength.
Social interactions often rely on encouragement to foster positive outcomes and support collaborative efforts, which can be crucial in teamwork and leadership. Whereas courage might often manifest in solitary contexts, where an individual stands up for beliefs or takes risks regardless of external support.
While encouragement can be offered and received, making it a dynamic and interactive process, courage is typically an inherent quality that can be developed or strengthened over time but originates within the individual.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
To motivate, inspire, or support someone to do something.
The ability to face fear, pain, or adversity.
Origin
Derived from the Old French "encoragier."
Comes from the Old French word "corage."
Type
Action (verb)
Trait (noun)
Dependency
Requires another person as the object.
Self-contained, inherent in an individual.
Common Contexts
Coaching, mentoring, leadership.
Acts of heroism, personal challenges, ethical dilemmas.
Compare with Definitions
Encourage
To promote, advance, or foster.
The policy encourages investment.
Courage
Bravery in a situation that involves risk or fear.
The firefighter showed great courage during the rescue.
Encourage
To inspire with courage, spirit, or hope.
Her coach's praise served to encourage her further.
Courage
The mental or moral strength to venture, persevere, and withstand danger or difficulty.
It took a lot of courage to stand up to the bully.
Encourage
To support or advocate.
We encourage the use of public transport.
Courage
The quality of mind which enables one to face adversity, danger, or temptation confidently.
She showed her courage by speaking out against injustice.
Encourage
To incite to action or to give hope or confidence to.
His teacher encouraged him to submit his art to a gallery.
Courage
The capacity to confront fear for a worthy cause.
Displaying courage, he confronted the corrupt officials.
Encourage
To spur on or stimulate by assistance or approval.
They were encouraged by the early success of the project.
Courage
Boldness or firmness in the face of danger.
His courage was evident as he entered the turbulent sea.
Encourage
To inspire with hope, courage, or confidence.
Courage
Courage (also called bravery or valour) is the choice and willingness to confront agony, pain, danger, uncertainty, or intimidation. Valour is courage or bravery, especially in battle.
Encourage
To give support to; foster
Policies designed to encourage private investment.
Courage
The ability to do something that frightens one; bravery
She called on all her courage to face the ordeal
Encourage
To stimulate; spur
Burning the field to encourage new plant growth.
Courage
The state or quality of mind or spirit that enables one to face danger, fear, or vicissitudes with self-possession, confidence, and resolution; bravery.
Encourage
To mentally support; to motivate, give courage, hope or spirit.
I encouraged him during his race.
Delia's coach encouraged her to focus on the positives.
Courage
The quality of being confident, not afraid or easily intimidated, but without being incautious or inconsiderate.
It takes a lot of courage to be successful in business.
Encourage
To spur on, strongly recommend.
We encourage the use of bicycles in the town centre.
We encourage you to cycle instead of taking the car.
Courage
The ability to overcome one's fear, do or live things which one finds frightening.
He plucked up the courage to tell her how he felt.
Encourage
To foster, give help or patronage
The royal family has always encouraged the arts in word and deed.
Courage
The ability to maintain one's will or intent despite either the experience of fear, frailty, or frustration; or the occurrence of adversity, difficulty, defeat or reversal. Moral fortitude.
Encourage
To give courage to; to inspire with courage, spirit, or hope; to raise, or to increase, the confidence of; to animate; enhearten; to incite; to help forward; - the opposite of discourage.
David encouraged himself in the Lord.
Courage
(obsolete) To encourage.
Encourage
Contribute to the progress or growth of;
I am promoting the use of computers in the classroom
Courage
The heart; spirit; temper; disposition.
So priketh hem nature in here corages.
My lord, cheer up your spirits; our foes are nigh,and this soft courage makes your followers faint.
Encourage
Inspire with confidence; give hope or courage to
Courage
Heart; inclination; desire; will.
I'd such a courage to do him good.
Encourage
Spur on;
His financial success encouraged him to look for a wife
Courage
That quality of mind which enables one to encounter danger and difficulties with firmness, or without fear, or fainting of heart; valor; boldness; resolution.
The king-becoming graces . . . Devotion, patience, courage, fortitude,I have no relish of them.
Courage that grows from constitution often forsakes a man when he has occasion for it.
Courage
To inspire with courage; to encourage.
Paul writeth unto Timothy . . . to courage him.
Courage
A quality of spirit that enables you to face danger of pain without showing fear
Common Curiosities
Can courage exist without encouragement?
Yes, courage is an internal quality that can exist without external encouragement.
Can someone encourage themselves?
Yes, self-encouragement is possible and can manifest as self-motivation or talking positively to oneself.
Who can give encouragement?
Anyone can provide encouragement, including friends, family, teachers, coaches, or even colleagues.
What is the main difference between encourage and courage?
Encourage is an action aimed at inspiring others, while courage is a personal trait of bravery.
Is courage always visible?
Not necessarily; courage can also be demonstrated in quiet, personal decisions and actions.
What are typical situations where encouragement is effective?
Encouragement is particularly effective in educational settings, during sports activities, and in overcoming personal challenges.
Can encouragement be harmful?
If misdirected or overdone, encouragement might lead to unrealistic expectations or reliance on external validation.
Are there cultural differences in how courage and encouragement are perceived?
Yes, cultural backgrounds can influence how people display and interpret courage and encouragement, with some cultures emphasizing collective support and others valuing individual bravery.
How do children learn about courage and encouragement?
Children learn about these concepts through examples set by parents, teachers, and media, as well as through personal experiences of being encouraged and acting courageously.
How does encouragement affect courage?
Encouragement can help bolster an individual's courage by providing support and confidence.
Does society value courage or encouragement more?
Society values both, but often celebrates courage in a more visible way through awards and public recognition, while encouragement is valued more in interpersonal relationships and team environments.
Is encouragement always positive?
While generally intended to be positive, encouragement must be genuine and appropriate to the situation to have the intended uplifting effect.
What role does courage play in leadership?
In leadership, courage is crucial for making tough decisions, standing up for what's right, and leading by example, especially under adversity.
How can one develop courage?
Courage can be developed through facing fears in controlled situations, learning from role models, and reflecting on personal values and actions.
Can encouragement affect a person's level of courage in the long term?
Yes, consistent encouragement can help build self-esteem and resilience, which are key components of courage, thereby potentially increasing a person's courageous behaviors over time.
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Written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
