Reward Restraint

prudence

is a matter of neither hoping nor fearing anything from the uncertain events of the future.

That man is prudent who neither hopes nor fears anything from the uncertain events of the future. Anatole France

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

Prudence is a rich, ugly, old maid courted by incapacity. (William Blake)

is a specialized form or development of common sense, a species rather than the genus as a whole.

It seems to be a specialized form or development of common sense, a species rather than the genus as a whole. For example, it takes common sense to recognize which of several political candidates possesses prudence, but the ability to distinguish the prudent man is not itself a sign that he who possesses it is sufficiently gifted to hold office. (115)

is inconsistent with love... in proportion as love increases, prudence decreases.

Prudence and love are inconsistent... in proportion as the last increases, the other decreases. Francois de La Rochefoucauld

is often a recipe for success. A man who is half an idiot, but who keeps a sharp lookout and acts prudently all his life, often enjoys the pleasure of triumphing over men of more imagination than he.

A man who is half an idiot, but who keeps a sharp lookout and acts prudently all his life, often enjoys the pleasure of triumphing over men of more imagination than he Stendhal

is another word for risk-averse. A prudent man is like a pin - His head prevents him from going too far.

A prudent man is like a pin... his head prevents him from going too far

 keeps life safe, but does not often make it happy.

Prudence keeps life safe, but does not often make it happy.

is the ability to assess human conduct, to regulate oneself in accord with this assessment, and to persuade others to follow suit.

The example calls our attention to one of the most obvious areas in which common sense is held to apply: the assessment of human nature. Indeed, it might be argued that this area is sufficiently inclusive to contain the entire domain of common sense. In accord with this argument, we not infrequently refer to common sense as prudence. Prudence, or, in the old-fashioned phrase, practical intelligence or wisdom, is the ability to assess human conduct, to regulate oneself in accord with this assessment, and to persuade others to follow suit.

prudence, n.Definitions

prudence