“It is curious that physical courage should be so common in the
world and moral courage so rare.” This quotation by Mark Twain brings
to mind something that the Lord spoke through His prophet Isaiah
approximately 2,700 years ago (Isaiah 51:7-8):
7 “Listen to Me, you who know righteousness,
A people in whose heart is My law;
Do not fear the reproach of man,
Neither be dismayed at their revilings.
8 "For the moth will eat them like a garment,
And the grub will eat them like wool.
But My righteousness shall be forever,
And My salvation to all generations.”
~ New American Standard Bible
Do you see the connection? God, through Isaiah, speaks about moral
courage when He tells those who truly believe and who live by a higher
standard not to fear the scoffing and verbal abuse of others. In verse 8
He tells His people that righteousness is eternal, but those who revile
are not a part of it.
Those courageous people who try to make this world a better place for
all of His creation, both human and other animal, and are accused of
being “self-righteous” should keep this in mind. They must be “doing the
right thing” to make their revilers feel so guilty.
See also:
http://www.all-creatures.org/quote.html
http://www.all-creatures.org/quotes/twain_mark.html