由于缺乏勇气，世上许多天才失落了。韦伯斯特给勇气下的定义是：内心素质，它能使人在碰到危险和困难的时候表现出坚定和毫不畏惧。我们还不如说，勇气不在于不感到害怕，而是战胜恐惧。智者和积极者以勇于尝试来战胜困难。懒惰者和愚者一见考验和灾难就发抖和患病，并产生出他们所怕的那种不可能性。
A great deal of talent is lost in the world for want of a little courage. The definition of courage given by Webster is “that quality of mind which enables men to encounter danger and difficulties with firmness or without fear.” We would rather say that courage does not consist in feeling no fear, but in conquering fear. The wise and the active conquer difficulties by daring to attempt them. The lazy and the foolish shiver and sicken at the sight of trial and hazard, and create the very impossibility they fear.
1. 原文第一句中的“由于缺乏勇气”可作原因状语从句放在句子后面。
2. 原文第二句中“内心素质”译为“quality of mind”，对“内心素质”的解释放在后面作定语从句。
3. 原文第三句中的“还不如说”译为“would rather say that...”。
4. 原文第四句中的“智者和积极者”可采用“the＋形容词＝名词”的译法，因此可译为“The wise and the active”。原文第五句中的“懒惰者和愚者”同样可以采用这种译法。