Max said, “I’ve seen you in a violent situation, and that’s not true, but if it were, it might be because you have experience cringing. That’s what’s in your muscle memory.” The room fell silent as Rutherford, Albert, and Sherwood thought about the implications of what Max had just said. Everybody could think of at least one occasion on which they’d acted less brave then they might have liked. The idea that these failings were attributable to a learned response and not an inherent weakness was both empowering and depressing. Rutherford thought, Is cowardice a habit? And if it is, am I brave
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