Quotes About Discretion

The fact is that censorship always defeats its own purpose, for it creates, in the end, the kind of society that is incapable of exercising real discretion. In the long run it will create a generation incapable of appreciating the difference between independence of thought and subservience.

Yield nothing to love that is denied to discretion.

You can't be spontaneous within reason.

That's the first rule of survival in enemy waters: volunteer nothing.

I am a very private person. No one ever knows anything about me as I don't think it is necessary. I tell people as much as I want them to know about me.

We're breaking protocol here. That's the good thing about being President - I can do whatever I want.

There are certain things I want to keep to me. I don't discuss my private life.

What are you working on?" "I'm trying to set up a store to sell baskets of none-of-your-fucking-business at wholesale prices.

As we locked the front door behind us, she said, "How do you keep getting in without my knowing it? Did Jill give you a key without mentioning it to me?" "Trade secret," I said. "What trade is that? Cat burglar?" "Yes, although I prefer the technical term." "What's that?" "Music promoter.

Let's not go there.' 'That's what people always say about places where they already are.

If I had even been his friend, well and good: the artful indiscretion of the true friend is intelligible to everybody; but I only saw Pechorin once in my life—on the high-road—and, consequently, I cannot cherish towards him that inexplicable hatred, which, hiding its face under the mask of friendship, awaits but the death or misfortune of the beloved object to burst over its head in a storm of reproaches, admonitions, scoffs and regrets.

If hatred strikes you, if you get accused, thrown to the lions, you can expect one of two reactions from people who know you: some of them will join in the kill, the others will discreetly pretend to know nothing, hear nothing, so you can go right on seeing them and talking to them. That second category, discreet and tactful, those are your friends. 'Friends' in the modern sense of the term. Listen, Jean-Marc, I've known that forever.

Understand that wisdom is higher than intellect and discretion is higher than debating.

And, my good friend John, let me caution you. You deal with the madmen. All men are mad in some way or the other, and inasmuch as you deal discreetly with your madmen, so deal with God's madmen too, the rest of the world.

We sat down on a bench within good view, and began to smoke cigars so as to attract as little attention as possible.

Todos estamos locos, de un modo u otro; y del mismo modo que tratas a tus locos con discreción, deberías tratar a los locos de Dios, o sea el resto del mundo.

En el caso que ahora nos ocupa, guardarás para ti el secreto hasta que nuestras convicciones sean más sólidas.

And, my good friend John, let me caution you. You deal with the madmen. All men are mad in some way or the other, and inasmuch as you deal discreetly with your madmen, so deal with God's madneb too, the rest of the world.

I'll not have my grandson subjected to the humiliation of his reading becoming public. We have to cope with this disgrace discreetly -- Grandma Ruth

Telling that guy a secret is like writing it across the sky

How many people can be told a secret, before it is no longer considered a secret? —Mentat conundrum (to which there is more than one correct answer)

society dictated foolish amounts of discretion in response to bad behavior, especially for women.

Some secrets are better left at that -as secrets.

Scepticism is the chastity of the intellect, and it is shameful to surrender it too soon or to the first comer: there is nobility in preserving it coolly and proudly through long youth, until at last, in the ripeness of instinct and discretion, it can be safely exchanged for fidelity and happiness. —GEORGE SANTAYANA Scepticism and Animal Faith, IX