Voluntary Heroism. March 30
Any man or woman, in any age and under any circumstances, who will, can live the heroic life and exercise heroic influences.
It is of the essence of self-sacrifice, and therefore of heroism, that it should be voluntary; a work of supererogation, at least, towards society and man; an act to which the hero or heroine is not bound by duty, but which is above though not against duty.
Lecture on Heroism. 1872.