How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
Just reading the words quickened Reynie's heart. Was he brave? Bravery had never been required of him, so how could he tell? […] Finally he gave up trying to decide and simply wrote, "I hope so." (1.40)
Good answer, but we'd like to point out that Reynie, like most people, seems to overlook the simple acts of bravery that he performs each and every day. For one thing, Reynie he showed up for these strange tests without having any idea what would be required of him or what might be in store for him.
And for another, at the age of eleven, he manages both to navigate his way to a strange building without being given any directions whatsoever, and to not freak out when a woman who looks like a pencil dodges his questions about telephone usage. But even before this test day, Reynie has persevered and maintained a positive attitude in a an environment—the Stonetown Orphanage—where he is taunted, ridiculed, and made to feel insignificant on a daily basis. You know what we'd call that? Brave.
Quote #2
[Reynie] shook his head and tried not to care. If he wanted to prove himself brave, after all, he had better just stop worrying. (1.53)
We kind of disagree with this because it's not worrying about things that makes a person cowardly. You can worry all day about how you're going to play in tonight's basketball game, and it's no big deal—as long as you don't let your worry stop you from going to the game, getting on the court, and doing your best, who cares? In fact, it probably takes more courage to do something you're worried about than it does to do something that doesn't scare you at all.
Quote #3
Reynie hesitated a long time at the cafeteria door. Then telling himself he must at least pretend to be brave, he went inside. (22.63)
Ever heard the phrase "fake it till you make it"? That's what Reynie's doing here, and it works. By pretending to be brave, he winds up actually being brave—facing a situation he isn't keen on facing. It's the same idea as forcing yourself to smile when you don't really feel like smiling. If you do it for a minute or two, it actually improves your mood. Kind of freaky, right? And kind of cool.
Quote #4
The children's plan was bold, ill-formed, and likely to fail, and all of them knew it. They also knew they must act now or never. (33.1)
This is really the definition of courage: knowing you don't have a great chance of success and trying anyway. Because really, how hard is it to do something when you know it's going to go well? Not hard. At all. But when your plan seems doomed to failure and you plunge forward anyway, that's pretty hardcore.
Quote #5
Yes, [Milligan] had wanted to convince Mr. Curtain he was working alone, had wanted to take suspicion off the children. He had sacrificed himself for them. (33.64)
That's another thing that takes a lot of courage: putting others before yourself. And Milligan's not just putting the kids' needs before his in a letting-them-order-first-at-the-ice-cream-stand kind of way—he's risking his life to save theirs. Can you say hero?
Quote #6
It will be rough, but you can handle them. (Part of Kate believed this—a very important part […]. But another part did not believe this—and it, too, was an important part, for unless you know about this part it is impossible to understand how brave a thing Kate was about to do). (35.74-75)
Yep—it's true. Kate's action here is a lot braver when you realize that she wasn't completely confident she could handle the Executives. Up to this point, Kate's always seemed pretty invincible, so it's important that Stewart points out to us that (a) she's not, and (b) she knows it.
Quote #7
Reynie was flooded with a terrific sense of well-being. Real well-being—not an illusion at all. He would not betray his friends. He knew that now. He had confronted his worst fear, and now it was gone. (36.43)
Quote #8
"How very touching," Mr. Curtain said. "Willing to be brainswept are you, Reynard? I applaud your sacrifice."
… The others looked uncertainly at Reynie, who smiled as bravely as he could and said, "What choice do we have"" (37.53-54)
Oh they have a choice all right—they can run and let the rest of civilization fend for itself. But that would be cowardly. And it would only be a short-term solution. Eventually someone would have to find a way to stop Mr. Curtain or the whole world would be under his control. So they choose to stay and fight, and it is a choice—a brave one.
Quote #9
The sound of metal cuffs snapping into place drew Reynie's gaze back to the Whisperer, in which—was it possible?—Constance had just taken a seat. (37.69)
We love this part. Just when we think that Reynie's going to be the one to get into the Whisperer (which we can't see going well since he couldn't resist it last time, or the time before), Constance jumps in and saves the day. And it's such a Constance thing to do. She doesn't consult anyone, and she doesn't give any notice at all. She just decides what she wants to do and does it, and suddenly we know exactly why Mr. Benedict said he thought she might be the key to their success.
As Reynie says, "No one can resist like Constance (37.82)!" Even so though, we have to remember that she's also the one most affected by the Messages, and that makes this a super-brave undertaking.
Quote #10
"You mean you're staying behind? But they'll catch you! They'll kill you!"
"Why else am I here if not to do this now?" [Mr. Benedict] told her soothingly. (37.14-144)
These people are so noble that if we didn't like them so much, we might get sick of them always doing the right thing, making the tough choices. But Mr. B is so humble—and so brave—that we just love him even more and applaud his sense of duty. It's a quality that the whole MBS crew shares. They know their mission matters, and that gives them a lot of courage to go on because even though there's always a choice, continuing is the only one that makes sense to them.