You're mistaken: men of sense often learn from their enemies. Prudence is the best safeguard. This principle cannot be learned from a friend, but an enemy extorts it immediately. It is from their foes, not their friends, that cities learn the lesson of building high walls and ships of war. And this lesson saves their children, their homes, and their properties.
It is always goodWhen a man has two irons in the fire.
Prudence is a rich ugly old maid courted by Incapacity.
'Tis true no lover has that pow'rAnd burns for love and money too.
[Prudence] replaces [strength] by saving the man who has the misfortune of not possessing it from most occasions when it's needed.
Chance fights ever on the side of the prudent.
A prudent and discreet Silence will be sometimes more to thy Advantage, than the most witty expression, or even the best contrived Sincerity. A Man often repents that he has spoken, but seldom that he has held his Tongue.
Cautious silence is where prudence takes refuge.
It is only by prudence, wisdom, and dexterity, that great ends are attained and obstacles overcome. Without these qualities nothing succeeds.
A prudent Chief not always must displayConceal his Force, nay seem sometimes to Fly.
The simple believeth every word: but the prudent man looketh well to his going.
That system, again, which makes virtue consist in prudence only, while it gives the highest encouragement to the habits of caution, vigilance, sobriety, and judicious moderation, seems to degrade equally both the amiable and respectable virtues, and to strip the former of all their beauty, and the latter of all their grandeur.
A prudent mind can see room for misgiving, lest he who prospers should one day suffer reverse.
Nothing can be done at once hastily and prudently.
My idea of the modern Stoic sage is someone who transforms fear into prudence, pain into information, mistakes into initiation, and desire into undertaking.
It behooves a prudent person to make trial of everything before arms.
He who is prudent and lies in wait for an enemy who is not, will be victorious.
The last explanation remains to be made about prudence; Little and large alike drop quietly aside from the prudence that suits immortality.
Thin-lipped wisdom spoke at her from the worn chair, hinted at prudence, quoted from that book of cowardice whose author apes the name of common sense.
Archers everBe worse provided than a common archer?
According to her cloth she cut her coat.
* * * Therefore I am wel pleased to take any coulor to defend your honour and hope you wyl remember that who seaketh two strings to one bowe, he may shute strong but neuer strait.
For chance fights ever on the side of the prudent.
Yes, I had two strings to my bow; both golden ones, egad! and both cracked.
Great Estates may venture more. Little Boats must keep near Shore.
Better is to bow than breake.
It is good to have a hatch before the durre.
Yee have many strings to your bowe.
So that every man lawfully ordained must bring a bow which hath two strings, a title of present right and another to provide for future possibility or chance.
Fænum habet in cornu, longe fuge.
Fasten him as a nail in a sure place.
The first years of man must make provision for the last.
Don't cross the bridge till you come to it,Is a proverb old, and of excellent wit.
Let your loins be gilded about, and your lights burning.
In ancient times all things were cheape,When corne is ripe 'tis time to reape.
Ne clochez pas devant les boyteux. (Old French.) Do not limp before the lame.
Prevention is the daughter of intelligence.
Be prudent, and if you hear, * * * some insult or some threat, * * * have the appearance of not hearing it.
Love all, trust a few,But never tax'd for speech.
Think him as a serpent's eggAnd kill him in the shell.
In my school days, when I had lost one shaft,I oft found both.
I won't quarrel with my bread and butter.
It is well to moor your bark with two anchors.
Try therefor before ye trust; look before ye leap.