"Coward: One who, in a perilous emergency, thinks with his legs"

This quote by Ambrose Bierce is a criticism of those who lack nerve in the face of risk. It suggests that when confronted with a hard or dangerous situation, a coward will not stand their ground and deal with the obstacle, but rather will run away in an effort to save themselves. This quote suggests that a coward is somebody who is more concerned with their own security than with doing what is ideal or necessary. It indicates that a coward is someone who is too scared to take threats and is unwilling to put themselves in damage's method. This quote is a pointer that courage is a crucial quality to have, and that those who lack it are not to be appreciated.