From a time far back in human history, it has been customary to characterize certain animals according to their dominant traits. The fox, for example, symbolizes wariness, and "sly as a fox" became an adage; the greyhound, known for its great speed, became the symbol for swiftness in movement; while the patient ox typifies strength; likewise, the lion, long regarded as the type and symbol of boldness and dominant courage, has been called the "king of beasts." Accordingly, great nations have incorporated the figure of the lion into their official seals, and individuals into their coats of arms, as being expressive of conscious superiority and fearlessness, thus proclaiming to the world immunity from fear, commonly engendered by a sense of weakness; so, "bold as a lion" has taken on the significance of a state of courage thought to be altogether above the possibilities of failure or defeat.
When Jacob, full of years, called his sons together to pronounce upon them his blessing or objurgation, as he thought their deserts to be, he blessed Judah, foreseeing for this favorite son a wonderful career as the forebear of a race, out of which should spring the Savior and Redeemer of mankind. So Jacob, perceiving in Judah the qualities of courage and strength which, then as now, were attributed to the king of beasts, characterized him as the "lion's whelp," or offspring. The Revelator, weeping much because "no man was found worthy to open and to read the book," was admonished by one of the elders, "Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof."
Our revered Leader, Mary Baker Eddy, adopting the symbolism of Genesis and Revelation in characterizing qualities of human thought, defines moral courage on page 514 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" as "'the lion of the tribe of Juda,' the king of the mental realm. Free and fearless it roams in the forest. Undisturbed it lies in the open field, or rests in 'green pastures, ...beside the still waters.'" It is to be noted, however, that it is moral courage to which our Leader attributes these qualities of fearlessness and power, not to mere animal courage, which, at best, is based upon nothing more substantial than a sense of physical strength derived from the belief of life in matter, and engendering an attitude of superiority to conditions and circumstances which commonly occasion fear. This type of courage renders its possessor bold because of a belief of superiority to any possible opposing force, a mental state manifestly quite inadequate to sustain one, directly there appears on the scene a foe apparently superior. Then it is that mere animal courage,—whether of mortal man or beast,—based upon such premise, proves its weakness, falters and runs away, overcome by the same quality of fear which, in its own leonine career, it has been able to inspire in weaker creatures.
