Courage Leads to Fortitude

Until yesterday, I have always been taught that the four cardinal virtues were justice, prudence, temperance, and courage. However, our guest speaker had a slightly different wording, which makes a huge difference in the way I look at the virtues. She replaced courage with fortitude. At first, this threw me for a loop. I was thinking, "Don't the two words mean the same thing?". However, after doing a little reading, I discovered that courage and fortitude are two different words with totally different approaches. According to the New Webster's Dictionary, courage is defined as being bold, brave, heroic, and fearless. It is an action. A person must choose to exercise courage. On the other hand, the New Webster's Dictionary defines fortitude as a firmness of mind to encounter danger or to bear pain or adversity; resolute endurance. Fortitude is a mindset. A person who possesses fortitude doesn't have to think about whether or not to fight; it comes natural.
As with all virtues, fortitude is attained through consistant practice. I think, in a sense, that courage is the outward proof of fortitude. However, fortitude is constant, while courage may not always be. If a person wishes to obtain fortitude, he or she must first begin by practicing the action of courage, no matter the circumstances. Out of this will grow the desired virtue of fortitude that will remain constant and fighting for what is right will become natural to that person.