Prudence Quotes

“Quiet people always know more than they seem. Although very normal, their inner world is by default fronted mysterious and therefore assumed weird. Never underestimate the social awareness and sense of reality in a quiet person; they are some of the most observant, absorbent persons of all.”
― Criss Jami, Healology

“The common man prays, 'I want a cookie right now!' And God responds, 'If you'd listen to what I say, tomorrow it will bring you 100 cookies.”
― Criss Jami, Killosophy

“Wise men are not pacifists; they are merely less likely to jump up and retaliate against their antagonizers. They know that needless antagonizers are virtually already insecure enough.”
― Criss Jami, Killosophy

“In some situations, if you say nothing, you are called dull; if you talk, you are thought impertinent and arrogant. It is hard to know what to do in this case. The question seems to be, whether your vanity or your prudence predominates.”
― William Hazlitt, Selected Essays, 1778-1830

“Look and see which way the wind blows before you commit yourself.”
― Aesop, Aesop’s Fables

“When nobody practices what they strongly believe in, that day will be a triumph of prudence.”
― Bauvard, Some Inspiration for the Overenthusiastic

“The prudent man always studies seriously and earnestly to understand whatever he professes to understand, and not merely to persuade other people that he understands it; and though his talents may not always be very brilliant, they are always perfectly genuine. He neither endeavours to impose upon you by the cunning devices of an artful impostor, nor by the arrogant airs of an assuming pedant, nor by the confident assertions of a superficial and imprudent pretender. He is not ostentatious even of the abilities which he really possesses. His conversation is simple and modest, and he is averse to all the quackish arts by which other people so frequently thrust themselves into public notice and reputation.”
― Adam Smith, The Theory of Moral Sentiments

“[The wives of powerful noblemen] must be highly knowledgeable about government, and wise – in fact, far wiser than most other such women in power. The knowledge of a baroness must be so comprehensive that she can understand everything. Of her a philosopher might have said: "No one is wise who does not know some part of everything." Moreover, she must have the courage of a man. This means that she should not be brought up overmuch among women nor should she be indulged in extensive and feminine pampering. Why do I say that? If barons wish to be honoured as they deserve, they spend very little time in their manors and on their own lands. Going to war, attending their prince's court, and traveling are the three primary duties of such a lord. So the lady, his companion, must represent him at home during his absences. Although her husband is served by bailiffs, provosts, rent collectors, and land governors, she must govern them all. To do this according to her right she must conduct herself with such wisdom that she will be both feared and loved. As we have said before, the best possible fear comes from love.

When wronged, her men must be able to turn to her for refuge. She must be so skilled and flexible that in each case she can respond suitably. Therefore, she must be knowledgeable in the mores of her locality and instructed in its usages, rights, and customs. She must be a good speaker, proud when pride is needed; circumspect with the scornful, surly, or rebellious; and charitably gentle and humble toward her good, obedient subjects. With the counsellors of her lord and with the advice of elder wise men, she ought to work directly with her people. No one should ever be able to say of her that she acts merely to have her own way. Again, she should have a man's heart. She must know the laws of arms and all things pertaining to warfare, ever prepared to command her men if there is need of it. She has to know both assault and defence tactics to insure that her fortresses are well defended, if she has any expectation of attack or believes she must initiate military action. Testing her men, she will discover their qualities of courage and determination before overly trusting them. She must know the number and strength of her men to gauge accurately her resources, so that she never will have to trust vain or feeble promises. Calculating what force she is capable of providing before her lord arrives with reinforcements, she also must know the financial resources she could call upon to sustain military action.

She should avoid oppressing her men, since this is the surest way to incur their hatred. She can best cultivate their loyalty by speaking boldly and consistently to them, according to her council, not giving one reason today and another tomorrow. Speaking words of good courage to her men-at-arms as well as to her other retainers, she will urge them to loyalty and their best efforts.”
― Christine de Pizan, The Treasure of the City of Ladies

“Unless you intend to kill him immediately thereafter, never kick a man in the balls. Not even symbolically. Or perhaps especially not symbolically.”
― Robert A. Heinlein, Friday

“You ask me why I don't speak
Not a word at will
But write so much worth well over a mill'
Well I value words like I value kisses
A sober one, a closer one penetrates the heart
Darling it's how it mends it”
― Criss Jami, Diotima, Battery, Electric Personality

“He buried his hands in the rich velvet of her hair. “I thought I’d die for wanting you.”
― Teresa Medeiros, Heather and Velvet

“The prudent man is always sincere, and feels horror at the very thought of exposing himself to the disgrace which attends upon the detection of falsehood. But though always sincere, he is not always frank and open; and though he never tells any thing but the truth, he does not always think himself bound, when not properly called upon, to tell the whole truth. As he is cautious in his actions, so he is reserved in his speech; and never rashly or unnecessarily obtrudes his opinion concerning either things or persons.”
― Adam Smith, The Theory of Moral Sentiments

“A good investor is prudent but not risk averse.”
― Hendrith Vanlon Smith Jr

“Mixing old wine with new wine is stupidity, but mixing old wisdom with new wisdom is maturity.”
― Amit Kalantri, Wealth of Words

“Do not spend the day in gathering flowers by the way side, lest night come upon you before you arrive at your journey's end, and then you will not reach it.”
― Isaac Watts, Logic: The Right Use of Reason in the Inquiry After Truth

“Threatened men live long.”
― Rudyard Kipling, Puck of Pook's Hill

“Nothing wrong with cowardice as long as it comes with prudence.”
― Khaled Hosseini, The Kite Runner

“Prudent investing is about ensuring the safety of principal and reasonable returns.”
― Hendrith Vanlon Smith Jr, CEO of Mayflower-Plymouth

“Look your fill ” the creature murmured his voice as sweet and rich as syllabub sauce. And his lusty grin when he said it was sinful—and pleasurable.
Prue was certain her face flamed red at the barbarian’s insinuation.
“I’m sure I don’t know what you mean ” she replied tartly.
He smiled and drained his goblet. His head was tilted back exposing the thick cords in his throat and Prue watched him eagerly drink down the entire contents in one swallow. Never had she seen such a vulgar display. Never had she been so engrossed in the workings of a man’s throat and the movement of his Adam’s apple. With a thunk he set the goblet down and shoved his chair back. His legs were spread and the black leather riding britches he wore were pulled snugly over his massive thighs…and other parts as well.
Flushing Prudence glanced away. She could not look at him like that with his lace jabot untied and lying on either side of his opened shirt. A shirt that was unbuttoned and opened to his waist exposing a vast amount of dark male skin hairless and bronzed.
“Shall you not look my lady ” he beckoned softly. “I like the feel of your eyes on me.”
“Cover yourself sir ” she demanded. “It’s most unseemly.”
“Ah the lady is Temperance indeed ” the brute murmured huskily.”
― Charlotte Featherstone, Lust

“She and Prudence sat on a cool grassy carpet. A pale green curtain of branches just brushed the grasses and threw a filigree of shadows, as delicate as the wrought silver, on the child’s face.”
― Elizabeth George Speare, The Witch of Blackbird Pond

“As we go about working in business, let’s always exercise caution and care.”
― Hendrith Vanlon Smith Jr, 4 Business Lessons From Jesus: A businessmans interpretation of Jesus' teachings, applied in a business context.

“In adversity be spirited and firm, and with equal prudence lessen your sail when filled with a too fortunate gale of prosperity.”
― Horatius

“What wisdom and what virtue there is in judging oneself truly and in remaining oneself! You have a part that only you can play; and your business is to play it to perfection, instead of trying to force fortune. Our lives are not interchangeable. Equally by aiming too high and by falling too low, one misses the path to the goal. Go straight ahead, in your own way, with God for guide.”
― Antonin Sertillanges, The Intellectual Life: Its Spirit, Conditions, Methods

“Measure yourself against the enemy before declaring war; those who fail to hunt the foxes in the neighbourhood should stay clear of the elephants.”
― R. N. Prasher

“If we use, to achieve our purposes, a mechanical agency with whose operation we cannot efficiently interfere once we have started it, because the action is so fast and irrevocable that we have not the data to intervene before the action is complete, then we had better be quite sure that the purpose put into the machine is the purpose which we really desire and not merely a colorful imitation of it.”
― Norbert Wiener

“Le pouvoir n’est le pouvoir que
lorsqu’il est utilisé avec prudence,
Tout pouvoir est un poison
s’il est utilisé de manière imprudente.”
― Abhijit Naskar, L'humain Impossible: Cent Sonnets pour Ma Famille Mondiale

“Tout pouvoir est un poison s’il est utilisé de manière imprudente.”
― Abhijit Naskar, L'humain Impossible: Cent Sonnets pour Ma Famille Mondiale

“Most people don't die because of their desires or ambitions, but because they cannot fulfill them completely or in the right time. Life is the daughter of prudence, consistency, and patience; it is calm and knows how to wait. Death, on the other hand, is fast, unruly, restless, obsessive—it yearns for everything but achieves nothing.”
― Geverson Ampolini

“Nothing so undermines your financial judgment as the sight of your neighbor getting rich.”
― J. Pierpont Morgan

“Commitment to compromise is the place where dreams die under the guise of prudence.”
― Craig D. Lounsbrough