Duty Quote by Henry Fielding
“Prudence is a duty which we owe ourselves, and if we will be so much our own enemies as to neglect it, we are not to wonder if the world is deficient in discharging their duty to us; for when a man lays the foundation of his own ruin, others too often are apt to build upon it.”
About This Quote
Source Novel: Tom Jones, 1749 (paraphrased in later edition)
Emphasizes personal responsibility: neglecting prudence leads to ruin, and others may compound that ruin.
In simple terms: Neglecting prudence harms yourself and others.
Key Takeaway
Cultivate prudence to avoid self‑destruction.
Themes
responsibility
prudence
consequences
self‑care
societal impact
Mood
thoughtful
serious
Type
ethical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- financial planning
- health decisions
- relationship counseling
Key Concepts
ethical duty
personal ruin
social ripple effects
Questions to Reflect On
- What areas of your life lack prudence?
- How does personal ruin affect your community?
A Different Perspective
May be too moralistic for modern contexts.
![“[Fiscal prudence] means spending wisely, reducing waste, collecting sufficient taxes to pay for the public goods and services we want, keeping budgets in relative balance over time, and keeping debt coming down, at least during reasonably good times.” quote by Alex Himelfarb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/6ce/alex-himelfarb-67130_debt_fiscal-prudence-means-spending-wisely-re_31889.jpg)
