--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Let us not be too prodigal when we are…" description: "\"Let us not be too prodigal when we are young, nor too parsimonious when we are old. Otherwise we shall fall into the common error of those, who, when t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/43f/charles-caleb-colton-270_acquire_let-us-not-be-too-prodigal-when-we-are-y_2703985.png" --- # Let us not be too prodigal when we are young, nor too… ![“Let us not be too prodigal when we are young, nor too parsimonious when we are old. Otherwise we shall fall into the common error of those, who, when they had the power to enjoy, had not the prudence to acquire; and when they had the prudence to acquire, had no longer the power to enjoy.” quote by Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/43f/charles-caleb-colton-270_acquire_let-us-not-be-too-prodigal-when-we-are-y_2703985.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/43f/charles-caleb-colton-270_acquire_let-us-not-be-too-prodigal-when-we-are-y_2703985.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/43f/charles-caleb-colton-270_acquire_let-us-not-be-too-prodigal-when-we-are-y_2703985.png) > “Let us not be too prodigal when we are young, nor too parsimonious when we are old. Otherwise we shall fall into the common error of those, who, when they had the power to enjoy, had not the prudence to acquire; and when they had the prudence to acquire, had no longer the power to enjoy.” [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Advocates balanced financial behavior across life stages to avoid loss of enjoyment or prudence **In simple terms:** Don’t be wasteful young nor stingy old; balance spending and saving Key Takeaway Maintain moderation in finances throughout life Themes moderation finance life‑cycle Mood reflective wise Type philosophical practical When to use this quote - personal budgeting - retirement planning - career earnings - philanthropy Key Concepts economics ethical living Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance saving and enjoying life now? - What principles guide your financial decisions? A Different Perspective Economic contexts differ across eras ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Enjoyment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enjoyment/) [Prodigals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prodigals/) [Prudence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prudence/) ## Related quotes > [Courage is generosity of the highest order, for the brave are prodigal of the most precious things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/courage-is-generosity-of-the-highest-order-for-the-brave-are-prodigal/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [Hope is a prodigal young heir, and Experience is his banker; but his drafts are seldom honoured, since there is often a heavy balance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/hope-is-a-prodigal-young-heir-and-experience-is-his-banker-but-his/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [If the prodigal quits life in debt to others, the miser quits it still deeper in debt to himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/if-the-prodigal-quits-life-in-debt-to-others-the-miser-quits-it-still/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [Hope is a prodigal young heir, and experience is his banker.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/hope-is-a-prodigal-young-heir-and-experience-is-his-banker/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [If you are under obligations to many, it is prudent to postpone the recompensing of one, until it be in your power to remunerate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/if-you-are-under-obligations-to-many-it-is-prudent-to-postpone-the/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [Pedantry prides herself on being wrong by rules; while common sense is contented to be right without them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/pedantry-prides-herself-on-being-wrong-by-rules-while-common-sense-is/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [As there are none so weak that we may venture to injure them with impunity, so there are none so low that they may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/as-there-are-none-so-weak-that-we-may-venture-to-injure-them-with/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [In order to try whether a vessel be leaky, we first prove it with water before we trust it with wine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/in-order-to-try-whether-a-vessel-be-leaky-we-first-prove-it-with/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [It is for us to begin. 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