APAD: Courage is fire and bullying is smoke

"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"!

 

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Calm is fire extinguisher,人生两件事,读书与健身 -移花接木- 给 移花接木 发送悄悄话 移花接木 的博客首页 (81 bytes) () 01/23/2026 postreply 09:15:39

Right, Maowi said sleeping might even be better ;-). Think I -最西边的岛上- 给 最西边的岛上 发送悄悄话 最西边的岛上 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 01/23/2026 postreply 09:34:25

have the 读书 part +家教, but not good @ “健身” yet, if ever. Thx! -最西边的岛上- 给 最西边的岛上 发送悄悄话 最西边的岛上 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 01/23/2026 postreply 09:38:59

(Glad if others, especially our leaders &country, have both) -最西边的岛上- 给 最西边的岛上 发送悄悄话 最西边的岛上 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 01/23/2026 postreply 09:42:15

So "no smoke w/o fire" means the bully has courage? -7grizzly- 给 7grizzly 发送悄悄话 7grizzly 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 01/23/2026 postreply 09:46:41

Good Q. Hmm, let me think … maybe the bully got a gun that -最西边的岛上- 给 最西边的岛上 发送悄悄话 最西边的岛上 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 01/23/2026 postreply 10:02:38

doesn’t smoke right? But they don’t care! -最西边的岛上- 给 最西边的岛上 发送悄悄话 最西边的岛上 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 01/23/2026 postreply 10:03:29

Some have Dutch courage. -7grizzly- 给 7grizzly 发送悄悄话 7grizzly 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 01/23/2026 postreply 10:08:16

噗呲!~~~ -最西边的岛上- 给 最西边的岛上 发送悄悄话 最西边的岛上 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 01/23/2026 postreply 10:11:09

You were and are brave! -暖冬cool夏- 给 暖冬cool夏 发送悄悄话 暖冬cool夏 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 01/23/2026 postreply 10:15:18

Thx! Forced brave, w/o those experiences, I’d b a very shy & -最西边的岛上- 给 最西边的岛上 发送悄悄话 最西边的岛上 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 01/23/2026 postreply 10:20:22

quiet person. "When life gives you lemons, make lemonade“ -最西边的岛上- 给 最西边的岛上 发送悄悄话 最西边的岛上 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 01/23/2026 postreply 10:23:29

can't imagine you were once a timid kid. -天边一片白云- 给 天边一片白云 发送悄悄话 天边一片白云 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 01/23/2026 postreply 17:02:11

Glad you are strong and brave later. -天边一片白云- 给 天边一片白云 发送悄悄话 天边一片白云 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 01/23/2026 postreply 17:02:48

I’d cry when people talk loudly 2 me when I was little :-) I -最西边的岛上- 给 最西边的岛上 发送悄悄话 最西边的岛上 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 01/23/2026 postreply 17:10:18

still cry often now, but will stand up 4 what I believe! 谢白云 -最西边的岛上- 给 最西边的岛上 发送悄悄话 最西边的岛上 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 01/23/2026 postreply 17:13:19

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