Francois Fenelon Quotes

Prudence as well as Moral Virtue determines the complete performance of a man's proper function: Virtue ensures the rightness of the end we aim at, Prudence ensures the rightness of the means we adopt to gain that end.

It is a wise man who knows where courage ends and stupidity begins.

In ethics, prudence is not an important virtue, but in the world it is almost everything.

Prudence is the knowledge of things to be sought, and those to be shunned.

When I asked you if you wanted to, I was not testing your courage. I was testing your wisdom.

...virtue is not merely a state in conformity with the right principle, but one that implies the right principle; and the right principle in moral conduct is prudence.

Prudence is not only the first in rank of the virtues political and moral, but she is the director and regulator, the standard of them all.

Virtue makes us aim at the right end, and practical wisdom makes us take the right means.

But goodness alone is never enough. A hard, cold wisdom is required for goodness to accomplish good. Goodness without wisdom always accomplishes evil.

Courage is often lack of insight, whereas cowardice in many cases is based on good information.

Quality in a classical Greek sense is how to live with grace and intelligence, with bravery and mercy.

Judgment is not upon all occasions required, but discretion always is.

Fear looks like wisdom to those without risk.

Prudence is a quality incompatible with vice, and can never be effectively enlisted in its cause.

The courage of a great many men, and the virtue of a great many women, are the effect of vanity, shame, and especially a suitabletemperament.

Knowing what is right does not make a sagacious man.

A determination never to do what is wrong, prudence, and good-humor, will go far toward securing to you the estimation of the world.

Self-denial is not a virtue; it is only the effect of prudence on rascality.

A valiant man Ought not to undergo, or tempt a danger, But worthily, and by selected ways, He undertakes with reason, not by chance. His valor is the salt t' his other virtues, They're all unseason'd without it.

Be circumspect in your dealings, and let the seed you plant be the offspring of prudence and care; thus fruit follows the fair blossom, as honor follows a good life.

Such, Echecrates, was the end of our comrade, who was, we may fairly say, of all those whom we knew in our time, the bravest and also the wisest and most upright man.

No god is absent where prudence dwells.

My errors will point to thinking men the various roads, and will teach them the great art of treading on the brink of the precipice without falling into it.

When you encounter seemingly good advice that contradicts other seemingly good advice, ignore them both.