Acting in a way that gets you killed 99% of the time may be considered heroism, but I'd rather consider it foolishness. I'd still probably do like that in some situations (direct threat against own child etc), but that would be because I've been "programmed" so, not because of any conscious thoughts.
Think of it that way: you die, and instantly lose all your potential. All good deeds you would be able to do cannot be done any more. Ask your widow and orphans which one they like more - a dead hero or a living husband and father. Sometimes, it takes even more heroism to accept defeat and to live to fight another day than to rush to a glorious death.
I'm all against absolute rules in behavior anyway. They can only lead to dogmatism and idiotic "heroes" chanting "My country - right of wrong" and similar stupidities.
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