Quotes About Prudence

A judge's disposition should be about evenly balanced between sail and anchor. He cannot be anchored to the past mechanically, but he ought not be moved by every puff of novel doctrine.

Go wisely and slowly. Those who rush stumble and fall.

There's an old saying that applies to me: you can't lose a game if you don't play the game. (Act 1, scene 4)

The better part of valour is discretion; in the which better part I have saved my life.

We shall see how the counsels of prudence and restraint may become the prime agents of mortal danger; how the middle course adopted from desires for safety and a quiet life may be found to lead direct to the bull's-eye of disaster.

Life is fraught with opportunities to keep your mouth shut.

There is always a strong case for doing nothing, especially for doing nothing yourself.

more than is wise or philosophic; but I contain myself, when nothing is to be gained by giving way.

even in matters of self-preservation, no policy is pursued for even ten or fifteen years at a time. We shall see how the counsels of prudence and restraint may become the prime agents of mortal danger; how the middle course adopted from desires for safety and a quiet life may be found to lead direct to the bull's-eye of disaster

Duty and prudence alike command, first, that the germ-centres of hatred and revenge should be constantly and vigilantly surveyed and treated in good time, and, secondly, that an adequate organisation should be set up to make sure that the pestilence can be controlled at its earliest beginnings before it spreads and rages throughout the entire earth.

Never shoot up in the air when you're standing under it.

Again, if there is prospect of danger on the march, a prudent general can hardly show his wisdom better than by sending out advanced patrols in front of the ordinary exploring parties to reconnoitre every inch of ground

A stockbroker urged me to buy a stock that would triple its value every year. I told him, "At my age, I don't even buy green bananas."

Being brave is good. Recklessness sometimes occur when you dare too much. A wise person doesn't have to be brave all the time.

You always want to quit while you are ahead. You don't want to be like a fighter who stays too long in the ring until you're not performing at your best.

An uncommon prudence is habitual with the subtler depravity, for it has everything to hide.

Gambling is not a vice, if you can afford to do it.

How prone to doubt, how cautious are the wise!

Doubt must be no more than vigilance, otherwise it can become dangerous.

Dream big, then hedge.

It would be doing me great injustice to think that I have any feeling of indifference to my country; I have more reason than anyone to feel, every day of my life, the value of the blood which flows in my veins, and it is only from prudence that at times I abstain from showing how proud I am of it.

I'd like to make it very clear that getting bitten by a venomous snake is dumb, clumsy and nothing to be proud of.

she opened the door very slowly and carefully, half hiding behind it, as if badly frightened of what might be waiting for her on the other side. And considering that it was me waiting, this showed rare common sense.

From an early age they knew what little value the world placed in books, and so didn't waste their time with them. Whereas I, even now, persist in believing that these black marks on white paper bear the greatest significance, that if I keep writing I might be able to catch the rainbow of consciousness in a jar. The only trust fund I have is this story, and unlike a prudent Wasp, I'm dipping into principal, spending it all.