John Milton Quotes

There must be in prudence also some master virtue.

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

It would be most right, and most wise, and, therefore must involve least suffering.

Leadership is all about right and wrong.

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.

In matters of conscience, first thoughts are best. In matters of prudence, last thoughts are best.

It is well to think well; it is divine to act well.

Knowing what is right does not make a sagacious man.

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

Wisdom consists of knowing how to distinguish the nature of trouble, and in choosing the lesser evil.

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

I try to do the right thing.

Courage is a virtue only so far as it is directed by prudence.

Rightness in our choice of an end is secured by [Moral] Virtue.

An evil deed is better left undone, for a man repents of it afterwards; a good deed is better done, for having done it, one does not repent.

...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 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.

As therefore the state of man now is, what wisdom can there be to choose, what continence to forbear, without the knowledge of good and evil?

You are wrong, sir, if you think that a man who is any good at all should take into account the risk of life or death; he should look to this only in his actions, whether what he does is right or wrong, whether he is acting like a good or a bad man.

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

Want of prudence is too frequently the want of virtue.

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

It is not the temptations you have, but the decision you make about them that counts.

Virtue is in the mind, not in the appearance.

What is called virtue in the common sense of the word has nothing to do with this or that man's prosperity, or even happiness.