Nicolas Chamfort Quotes

Prudence is the footprint of Wisdom.

Caution is the eldest child of wisdom.

Circumspection and caution are part of wisdom.

We have exercised restraint and adopted a wise and sane policy. But this should never be construed as weakness…

It is prudence that first forsakes the wretched.

Great good nature without prudence is a great misfortune.

An ounce of prudence is worth a pound of cleverness.

It's a wise man who profits by his own experience, but it's a good deal wiser one who lets the rattlesnake bite the other fellow.

The enlightened ruler is heedful, and the good general full of caution.

One of the lessons of history is that nothing is often a good thing to do and always a clever thing to say.

Don't ask too many questions from the bench, and that way you will avoid asking too many foolish questions.

Force without wisdom fall of its own weight.

Let him remember that many before now have tried to chastise a wrongdoer, and failing to punish their enemy have not even saved themselves; while many who have trusted in force to gain an advantage, instead of gaining anything more, have been doomed to lose what they had. Vengeance is not necessarily successful because wrong has been done, or strength sure because it is confident; but the incalculable element in the future exercises the widest influence, and is the most treacherous, and yet in fact the most useful of all things, as it frightens us all equally, and thus makes us consider before attacking each other.

What is permitted is not always wise.

I'm always careful to even guess, at any juncture, about things before we do them.

As I grow older and I don't run so fast, I'm not so eager to get myself in situations where I'm going to have to run.

Unrestrained zeal to make the world better could make it worse. Promoting democracy must be undertaken with humility, care, and wisdom.

Sir, that much prudence calls for too much worry; I cannot foresee misfortunes so far away.

Where duty is plain delay is both foolish and hazardous; where it is not, delay may be both wisdom and safety.

Quit while you're a head, that's what I say.

The wise man is seldom prudent.

Prudence, like experience, must be paid for.