--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The coward regards himself as cautious…" description: "\"The coward regards himself as cautious, the miser as thrifty.\" — Publilius Syrus" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a61/publilius-syrus-594_cautious_the-coward-regards-himself-as-cautious-t_54206.png" --- # The coward regards himself as cautious, the miser as… ![“The coward regards himself as cautious, the miser as thrifty.” quote by Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a61/publilius-syrus-594_cautious_the-coward-regards-himself-as-cautious-t_54206.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a61/publilius-syrus-594_cautious_the-coward-regards-himself-as-cautious-t_54206.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a61/publilius-syrus-594_cautious_the-coward-regards-himself-as-cautious-t_54206.png) > “The coward regards himself as cautious, the miser as thrifty.” [Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. It highlights how self‑justification masks fear and sting, presenting them as prudence and frugality. **In simple terms:** Self‑deception cloaks vice as virtue. Key Takeaway Virtues can be excuses for vices. Themes self‑deception virtue signaling psychology of rationalization moral hypocrisy self‑image Mood reflective critical insightful Type aphor maxim observational When to use this quote - personal decision‑making - financial budgeting - risk assessment - leadership evaluation - ethical counseling Key Concepts cognitive bias moral philosophy human behavior Practical Applications - coaching for self‑awareness - ethical training modules Questions to Reflect On - What does it mean to be truly cautious? - How can we differentiate genuine thrift from selfishness? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cautious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cautious/) [Cautious Miser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cautious-miser-758727/) [Coward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coward/) [Coward Regards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coward-regards-758728/) [Miser Thrifty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/miser-thrifty-758729/) [Misers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/misers/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Regard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/regard/) [Thrifty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thrifty/) ## Related quotes > [A coward calls himself cautious, a miser thrifty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/a-coward-calls-himself-cautious-a-miser-thrifty/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [The coward reckons himself cautious, the miser frugal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-home-lord-kames/the-coward-reckons-himself-cautious-the-miser-frugal/) [Henry Home, Lord Kames](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-home-lord-kames/) > [The timid man calls himself cautious, the sordid man thrifty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/the-timid-man-calls-himself-cautious-the-sordid-man-thrifty/) [Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) > [The finest virtues can become deformed with age. The precise mind becomes finicky; the thrifty man, miserly; the cautious man, timorous; the man of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-gide/the-finest-virtues-can-become-deformed-with-age-the-precise-mind/) [Andre Gide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-gide/) > [If you would be wealthy, think of saving as well as getting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/if-you-would-be-wealthy-think-of-saving-as-well-as-getting/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [A thrifty housewife is better than a great income. A good wife and health are a man's best wealth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-thrifty-housewife-is-better-than-a-great-income-a-good-wife-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [My father died when I was two years old. But my mother was quite capable. She raised three children with his war pension which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giulio-andreotti/my-father-died-when-i-was-two-years-old-but-my-mother-was-quite/) [Giulio Andreotti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giulio-andreotti/) > [Whatever thrift is, it is not avarice. Avarice is not generous; and, after all, it is the thrifty people who are generous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/archibald-primrose-5th-earl-of-rosebery/whatever-thrift-is-it-is-not-avarice-avarice-is-not-generous-and/) [Archibald Primrose, 5th Earl of Rosebery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/archibald-primrose-5th-earl-of-rosebery/) > [One of the saddest sights of the slums is to see the thrifty wife of the working man, with her rosy brood of children,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albion-fellows-bacon/one-of-the-saddest-sights-of-the-slums-is-to-see-the-thrifty-wife-of/) [Albion Fellows Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albion-fellows-bacon/) > [Think of it! A few more boats, a few more planks of wood nailed together in a particular way at a thrifty cost and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-beesley/think-of-it-a-few-more-boats-a-few-more-planks-of-wood-nailed/) [Lawrence Beesley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-beesley/) > [It's smart to be thrifty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernice-fitz-gibbon/it-s-smart-to-be-thrifty/) [Bernice Fitz-Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernice-fitz-gibbon/) > [We're thrifty. We can live off our interest, save the principal, and let the kids go off and have a hoot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-jackson/we-re-thrifty-we-can-live-off-our-interest-save-the-principal-and-let/) [Keith Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-jackson/) > [Caring for God's endowment in a thrifty fashion is a form of biblical obedience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-malloch/caring-for-god-s-endowment-in-a-thrifty-fashion-is-a-form-of-biblical/) [Ted Malloch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-malloch/) > [Leftovers make you feel good twice. First, when you put it away, you feel thrifty and intelligent: 'I'm saving food!' Then a month later…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/leftovers-make-you-feel-good-twice-first-when-you-put-it-away-you/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [Housing Works is the coolest thrift store in the world, because not only are they the best thrift store - they're not the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-miller/housing-works-is-the-coolest-thrift-store-in-the-world-because-not/) [Ezra Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-miller/) ## More by Publilius Syrus > [Even speed, when we are anxious, seems like delay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/even-speed-when-we-are-anxious-seems-like-delay/) [Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) > [It is his nature, not his standing, that makes the good man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/it-is-his-nature-not-his-standing-that-makes-the-good-man/) [Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) > [It is more tolerable to be refused than deceived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/it-is-more-tolerable-to-be-refused-than-deceived/) [Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) > [Modesty once lost, never returns into favour.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/modesty-once-lost-never-returns-into-favour/) [Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) > [One ungrateful person does an injury to all needy people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/one-ungrateful-person-does-an-injury-to-all-needy-people/) [Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) > [He has existed only, not lived, who lacks wisdom in old age.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/he-has-existed-only-not-lived-who-lacks-wisdom-in-old-age/) [Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) > [Any plan is bad which is incapable of modification.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/any-plan-is-bad-which-is-incapable-of-modification/) [Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) > [The evil you do to others you may expect in return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/the-evil-you-do-to-others-you-may-expect-in-return/) [Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) > [The power of habit is very strong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/the-power-of-habit-is-very-strong/) [Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) > [Take care that no one hates you justly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/take-care-that-no-one-hates-you-justly/) [Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) > [Poverty wants much; but avarice, everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/poverty-wants-much-but-avarice-everything/) [Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) > [He who has plenty of pepper will pepper his cabbage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/he-who-has-plenty-of-pepper-will-pepper-his-cabbage/) [Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) > [Hasty conclusions lead to speedy repentance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/hasty-conclusions-lead-to-speedy-repentance/) [Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) > [When reason rules, money is a blessing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/when-reason-rules-money-is-a-blessing/) [Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) > [The judge is condemned when the criminal is acquitted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/the-judge-is-condemned-when-the-criminal-is-acquitted/) [Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) [Explore all 455 Publilius Syrus quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) ## More Cautious quotes > [When I became successful, I put up a caution. I didn't think it was fair to have the shadow of that kind of success…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-redford/when-i-became-successful-i-put-up-a-caution-i-didn-t-think-it-was/) [Robert Redford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-redford/) > [Having an eating disorder doesn't show ‘strength.’ Strength is when are able to overcome your demons after being sick and tired for so long.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demi-lovato/having-an-eating-disorder-doesn-t-show-strength-strength-is-when-are/) [Demi Lovato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demi-lovato/) > [I'm pretty cautious and not very athletic, so I've only had really dumb injuries, like sprained ankles and allergic reactions. I did have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mara-wilson/i-m-pretty-cautious-and-not-very-athletic-so-i-ve-only-had-really/) [Mara Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mara-wilson/) > [When you jump across a canyon, cautious small steps and vacillation won't work. Sometimes you just have to go for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/when-you-jump-across-a-canyon-cautious-small-steps-and-vacillation/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [Fear and caution are two different things. Be cautious - be conscious - but do not be fearful. Fear only paralyzes, while consciousness mobilizes.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neale-donald-walsch/fear-and-caution-are-two-different-things-be-cautious-be-conscious/) [Neale Donald Walsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neale-donald-walsch/) > [While we are contending for our own liberty, we should be very cautious not to violate the conscience of others, ever considering that God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/while-we-are-contending-for-our-own-liberty-we-should-be-very/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [Courage is not the absence of fear but rather the judgement that something is more important than fear; The brave may not live forever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-cabot/courage-is-not-the-absence-of-fear-but-rather-the-judgement-that/) [Meg Cabot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-cabot/) > [Americans want a strong military but one that is extremely cautious about getting involved in war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mollie-hemingway/americans-want-a-strong-military-but-one-that-is-extremely-cautious/) [Mollie Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mollie-hemingway/) > [We old roosters must be cautious. Don't try to outwit your arteries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-j-perelman/we-old-roosters-must-be-cautious-don-t-try-to-outwit-your-arteries/) [S. J. Perelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-j-perelman/) > [The more a race is governed by its passions, the less it has acquired the habit of cautious and reasoned argument, the more intense…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stendhal/the-more-a-race-is-governed-by-its-passions-the-less-it-has-acquired/) [Stendhal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stendhal/) > [It's kind of an unwritten law, I think, being - carrying the name - George Bush. At times I ask myself, 'Am I going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-p-bush/it-s-kind-of-an-unwritten-law-i-think-being-carrying-the-name-george/) [George P. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-p-bush/) > [You ought to be extremely cautious, watchful, jealous of your liberty; for instead of securing your rights, you may lose them forever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-henry/you-ought-to-be-extremely-cautious-watchful-jealous-of-your-liberty/) [Patrick Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-henry/) > [I'm not paranoid, but I am cautious. I don't drink tea with strangers, I don't fly Aeroflot and I avoid certain countries with close…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garry-kasparov/i-m-not-paranoid-but-i-am-cautious-i-don-t-drink-tea-with-strangers-i/) [Garry Kasparov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garry-kasparov/) > [Candidates should be extremely cautious in displaying a sense of humor. If he or she tells a joke with a point, there is almost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-germond/candidates-should-be-extremely-cautious-in-displaying-a-sense-of/) [Jack Germond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-germond/) > [While business advertises, charity is taught to beg. While business motivates with a dollar, charity is told to motivate with guilt. While business takes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-pallotta/while-business-advertises-charity-is-taught-to-beg-while-business/) [Dan Pallotta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-pallotta/) [Browse all 501 Cautious quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cautious/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The coward regards himself as cautious, the miser as thrifty.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Publilius Syrus" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/the-coward-regards-himself-as-cautious-the-miser-as-thrifty/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Cautious" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/the-coward-regards-himself-as-cautious-the-miser-as-thrifty/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a61/publilius-syrus-594_cautious_the-coward-regards-himself-as-cautious-t_54206.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a61/publilius-syrus-594_cautious_the-coward-regards-himself-as-cautious-t_54206.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a61/publilius-syrus-594_cautious_the-coward-regards-himself-as-cautious-t_54206.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The coward regards himself as cautious, the miser as thrifty.” — Publilius Syrus", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Publilius Syrus", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The coward regards himself as cautious,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/the-coward-regards-himself-as-cautious-the-miser-as-thrifty/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/the-coward-regards-himself-as-cautious-the-miser-as-thrifty/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```