Prudence Quotes

Silence is the sanctuary of prudence.

It is not the part of prudence to neglect that which antiquity in its long experience has approved and which is also taught by apostolic authority.

It is a madness to make fortune the mistress of events, because in herself she is nothing, can rule nothing, but is ruled by prudence.

When desperate ills demand a speedy cure, Distrust is cowardice, and prudence folly.

Better is to bow than break.

Let us not throw the rope after the bucket.

Cunning is none of the best nor worst qualities; it floats between virtue and vice; there is scarce any exigence where it may not, and perhaps ought not to be supplied by prudence.

Temper your enjoyments with prudence, lest there be written on your heart that fearful word 'satiety.'

The virtuous woman flees from danger; she trusts more to her prudence in shunning it than in her strength to overcome it.

Philanthropic humility is necessary if a giver is to do more good than harm, but it is not sufficient - philanthropic prudence is also needed.

Prudence is a rich, ugly, old maid courted by incapacity.

No other protection is wanting, provided you are under the guidance of prudence.

I prefer silent prudence to loquacious folly.

What have we given? My friend, blood shaking my heart The awful daring of a moment's surrender Which an age of prudence can never retract By this, and this only, we have existed.

Often a certain abdication of prudence and foresight is an element of success.

We accomplish more by prudence than by force. [Lat., Plura consilio quam vi perficimus.]

Be circumspect in your dealings, and let the seed you plant be the offspring of prudence and care; thus fruit follows the fair blossom, as honor follows a good life.

You must rouse into people's consciousness their own prudence and strength, if you want to raise their character.

The first years of man must make provision for the last.

Rashness attends youth, as prudence does old age.

I hate to see prudence clinging to the green suckers of youth; 'tis like ivy round a sapling, and spoils the growth of the tree.

Prudence supposes the value of the end to be assumed, and refers only to the adaptation of the means. It is the relation of right means for given ends.

He who does not stretch himself according to the coverlet finds his feet uncovered.

Cowardice is not synonymous with prudence. It often happens that the better part of discretion is valor.

Common sense is a phrase employed to denote that degree of intelligence, sagacity, and prudence which is common to all men.

Prudence is one of the virtues which were called cardinal by the ancient ethical writers.

The power of fortune is confessed only by the miserable, for the happy impute all their success to prudence or merit.

Nothing more unqualified the man to act with prudence than a misfortune that is attended with shame and guilt.

A man improves more by reading the story of a person eminent for prudence and virtue, than by the finest rules and precepts of morality.

The less prudence with which others conduct their affairs, the greater the prudence with which we should conduct our own affairs.

I will talk and act, not on my knees, but with prudence.

Prudence is but experience, which equal time equally bestows on all men in those things they equally apply themselves unto.

In ethics, prudence is not an important virtue, but in the world it is almost everything.

Nothing can be done quickly and prudently at the same time.

Prudence is the virtue by which we discern what is proper to do under various circumstances in time and place.

[T]he importance of piety and religion; of industry and frugality; of prudence, economy, regularity and an even government; all . . . are essential to the well-being of a family.

I mention this only to shew that the citations of the most judicious authors frequently deceive us, and consequently that prudence obliges us to examine quotations, by whomsoever alleged.

Frugality may be termed the daughter of Prudence, the sister of Temperance, and the parent of Liberty.

Thin-lipped wisdom spoke at her from the worn chair, hinted at prudence, quoted from that book of cowardice whose author apes the name of common sense.

The great end of prudence is to give cheerfulness to those hours which splendor cannot gild, and acclamation cannot exhilarate.

Prudence is an attitude that keeps life safe, but does not often make it happy.

The rules of prudence, like the laws of the stone tables, are for the most part prohibitive. "Thou shalt not" is their characteristic formula.

Where passion leads or prudence points the way.

Prosperity demands of us more prudence and moderation than adversity.

Prudence is the knowledge of things to be sought, and those to be shunned.

Whoe'er imagines prudence all his own, Or deems that he hath powers to speak and judge Such as none other hath, when they are known, They are found shallow.

Prudence must not be expected from a man who is never sober. [Lat., Non est ab homine nunquam sobrio postulanda prudentia.]

All men of conscience or prudence ply to windward, to maintain their wars to be defensive.

Genius always gives its best at first; prudence, at last.

Prudence does not make people happy; it merely deprives them of the excitement of being constantly in trouble.