Rachel is no more courageous than Saul (is).

[SuprunP]

15.70

Rachel is no more courageous than Saul (is).
The sentence implies that both Rachel and Saul are not courageous ('Rachel is not courageous, any more than Saul is courageous').
[...]
Rachel is not more courageous than Saul (is).
This last sentence allows for the possibility that Rachel is less courageous than Saul.
(A Comprehensive Grammar of the English Language; R. Quirk)

Would you be so kind as to tell me whether I have understood it correctly that 'Rachel is no more courageous than Saul (is).' does not allow for the possibility that Rachel is less courageous than Saul?

Thanks.

 

[Barque]

It doesn't necessarily mean that Rachel is less courageous, only that she isn't courageous and is similar to Saul in this respect. I wouldn't say that it doesn't allow for the possibility that she is less courageous; it just doesn't specify that.