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APAD: Courage is fire and bullying is smoke

最西边的岛上 2026-01-23 07:14:38 ( reads)

"Courage is fire, and bullying is smoke" by Benjamin Disraeli means that true strength (fire) is authentic and enduring, while bullying (smoke) is merely a fleeting, loud, and blinding illusion of power that lacks substance. Bullying is temporary, meant to obscure the truth and diminish quickly when challenged.

"Bullies are masters at holding others responsible for their misbehavior. Instead of claiming 'the devil made me do it', they argue 'You made me do it' ". - Sam Horn

- From online with editing
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Have you ever been bullied in life?

I have. Being a kid born sensitive and timid, I had a hard time dealing with the bullies who slapped my face when I blocked their fits towards my younger brother, and broke our home window glass in the middle of frozen winter when Dad was sent away to the countryside.

I survived, and thanks to Grimm's Fairy Tale, the first book I read in life, I didn't lose my love and faith to the good and kind people in the world.  But I learned how to treat the bullies - ignore them once I know who they truly are, and be a better stronger self.  And when needed, stand up to them.

"Courage is fire, and bullying is smoke"!

 

跟帖(16)

移花接木

2026-01-23 09:15:39

Calm is fire extinguisher,人生两件事,读书与健身

最西边的岛上

2026-01-23 09:34:25

Right, Maowi said sleeping might even be better ;-). Think I

最西边的岛上

2026-01-23 09:38:59

have the 读书 part +家教, but not good @ “健身” yet, if ever. Thx!

最西边的岛上

2026-01-23 09:42:15

(Glad if others, especially our leaders &country, have both)

7grizzly

2026-01-23 09:46:41

So "no smoke w/o fire" means the bully has courage?

最西边的岛上

2026-01-23 10:02:38

Good Q. Hmm, let me think … maybe the bully got a gun that

最西边的岛上

2026-01-23 10:03:29

doesn’t smoke right? But they don’t care!

7grizzly

2026-01-23 10:08:16

Some have Dutch courage.

最西边的岛上

2026-01-23 10:11:09

噗呲!~~~

暖冬cool夏

2026-01-23 10:15:18

You were and are brave!

最西边的岛上

2026-01-23 10:20:22

Thx! Forced brave, w/o those experiences, I’d b a very shy &

最西边的岛上

2026-01-23 10:23:29

quiet person. "When life gives you lemons, make lemonade“

天边一片白云

2026-01-23 17:02:11

can't imagine you were once a timid kid.

天边一片白云

2026-01-23 17:02:48

Glad you are strong and brave later.

最西边的岛上

2026-01-23 17:10:18

I’d cry when people talk loudly 2 me when I was little :-) I

最西边的岛上

2026-01-23 17:13:19

still cry often now, but will stand up 4 what I believe! 谢白云