Prudence Quotes

Prudence is a presumption of the future, contracted from the experience of time past.

Is it life, I ask, is it even prudence, To bore thyself and bore the students?

The only prudence in life is concentration.

No god is absent where prudence dwells.

Prudence is the footprint of Wisdom.

Imprudence gets us into more trouble than actual misdeeds do.

Prudence approaches, conscience accuses.

Prevention is the daughter of intelligence.

Those who get their living by their daily labor . . . have nothing to stir them up to be serviceable but their wants which it is a prudence to relieve, but folly to cure.

Caution is the lower story of prudence.

Prudence reproaches; conscience accuses.

When you have nothing to say, or to hide, there is no need to be prudent.

The bounds of a man's knowledge are easily concealed, if he has but prudence.

An ounce of prudence is worth a pound of cleverness.

Let us not throw the rope after the bucket.

I prefer silent prudence to loquacious folly.

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

Silence is the sanctuary of prudence.

Better is to bow than break.

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

If thou art terrible to manyh, then beware of many.

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.

There must be in prudence also some master virtue.

Where passion leads or prudence points the way.

There is nothing more imprudent than excessive prudence.

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

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

The eye of prudence may never shut.

Courage is a virtue only so far as it is directed by prudence.

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

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

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

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

It is good the have a hatch before the durre.

A woman's best qualities are harmful if undiluted with prudence.

Prudence, like experience, must be paid for.

I prefer silent prudence to loquacious folly. [Lat.,
Malo indisertam prudentiam,
quam loquacem stultitiam.]

One has no protecting power save prudence. [Lat., Nullum numen habes si sit prudentia.]

Prudence does not save us, but shows us pictures of our destroyers.

It is prudence that first forsakes the wretched.

The moderate are not usually the most sincere, for the same circumspection which makes them moderate makes them likewise retentive of what could give offence.

Pedantry prides herself on being wrong by rules; while common sense is contented to be right without them.

Dine on little, and sup on less.

Too many expedients may spoil an affair. [Fr., Le trop d'expedients peut gater une affaire.]

When we are young we lay up for old age; when we are old we save for death.

As love increases,
prudence diminishes.

Prudence will punish to prevent crime, not to avenge it.

Do not limp before the lame. [Old Fr., Ne clochez pas devant les boyteus.]

It was said of Euripides, that every verse was a precept; and it may be said of Shakespeare, that from his works may be collected a system of civil and economical prudence.

Magnanimity will not consider the prudence of its motives.