Character Quote by Oliver Goldsmith
“Want of prudence is too frequently the want of virtue.”
About This Quote
Source Play: She Stoops to Conquer, 1773
Lack of prudence often masquerades as virtue, leading to poor decisions.
In simple terms: Imprudent actions pretend to be virtuous.
Key Takeaway
Practice discernment before acting.
Themes
virtue
prudence
decision making
Mood
thoughtful
critical
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- financial choices
- relationships
- leadership
- policy making
Key Concepts
Moral philosophy
ethical reasoning
Questions to Reflect On
- When does prudence become a hindrance?
- How can you balance caution with action?
A Different Perspective
Sometimes caution can stifle necessary boldness.
![“[Prudence] is the virtue of that part of the intellect [the calculative] to which it belongs; and . . . our choice of actions will not be right without Prudence any more than without Moral Virtue, since, while Moral Virtue enables us to achieve the end, Prudence makes us adopt the right means to…” quote by Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/be1/aristotle-78_achieve_prudence-is-the-virtue-of-that-part-of-t_431676.jpg)
![“[T]here are depths of thousands of miles which are hidden from our inquiry. The only tidings we have from those unfathomable regions are by means of volcanoes, those burning mountains that seem to discharge their materials from the lowest abysses of the earth.” quote by Oliver Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/b7d/oliver-goldsmith-772_abyss_t-here-are-depths-of-thousands-of-miles_88121.jpg)
