Sometimes Warriors fight for personal gain, but just as often they are willing to do damage so that others may benefit, whether it’s a fiercely protective mother or a Robin Hood robbing from the rich to give to the poor. Altruism is often part of the modern warrior mentality—a kind of fearlessness coupled with an adherence to codes of honor.
The Aztecs were merciless warriors. Genghis Kahn, leader of the Mongols, was famously ruthless as well. In Japan, ninjas were peasants who became stealthy shadow warriors who would kill and disappear into the night.
But warriors are not always so savage. Before becoming president, gentlemanly Ulysses S. Grant was seen as a great general. Napoleon Bonaparte fought all over Europe but with such honor that a code was named for him in the decades that followed. Modern warriors include Generals Patton and Eisenhower, Moshe Dayan, Colin Powell and David Petraeus, whose rebellious Don Juan side recently ended his formidable career.
These days, warrior is a term that can be applied as much to a frame of mind as a vocation. The Art of War is an ancient Chinese text that business strategists study in order to learn subtle ways of attacking and destroying the competition. Then there are mixed martial arts fighters and triathletes. Finally, we have spiritual Warriors who teach stoicism and sacrifice as a way of gaining mastery of the self. “The ideal of warriorship,” writes Chongyam Trongpa, “is that the warrior should be sad and tender, and because of that, the warrior can be very brave as well.”
Other Examples
Spartacus, Sun Tzu, William Wallace, Hannibal Barca
Strengths
Warriors are brave and attractive people who are willing to put themselves on the line regardless of consequences.
Weaknesses
Their ruthlessness can be destructive, not just to others but also to themselves, with frequent encounters with either injury or the law.
Passions
Military history, firearms, swords, and strategic planning
Reading
- Way of the Peaceful Warrior by Dan Millman
- The Art of War by Sun Tzu
- Black Hawk Down by Mark Bowden
- Homage to Catalonia by George Orwell
- War by Sebastian Junger
Words
“We are timid only when there is something we can still cling to.” -Don Juan Matus
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