  Doesn't it take guts to break into someone's house and rape and kill them? Sure.  Doesn't it take guts to rob a bank or a convenience store? You bet.  People who display the most guts by committing a criminal act generally have the least brains. The only people we should praise for having guts are those that use their moments of courage for good and not evil.  People that commit acts of robbery/piracy/looting etc aren't exactly what I would label as brave. A more accurate explanation of what you label as bravery is that they have nothing left to lose which leads them to care little about retribution.