--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A coward calls himself cautious, a miser…" description: "\"A coward calls himself cautious, a miser thrifty.\" — Seneca the Younger" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc7/seneca-the-younger-219_cautious_a-coward-calls-himself-cautious-a-miser_3104166.jpg" --- # A coward calls himself cautious, a miser thrifty. ![“A coward calls himself cautious, a miser thrifty.” quote by Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc7/seneca-the-younger-219_cautious_a-coward-calls-himself-cautious-a-miser_3104166.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc7/seneca-the-younger-219_cautious_a-coward-calls-himself-cautious-a-miser_3104166.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc7/seneca-the-younger-219_cautious_a-coward-calls-himself-cautious-a-miser_3104166.jpg) > “A coward calls himself cautious, a miser thrifty.” [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Caution can mask cowardice; true prudence is not about hoarding resources but about wise use. **In simple terms:** Being overly cautious can be a disguise for fear. Key Takeaway Practice measured risk‑taking instead of false thrift. Themes courage wisdom moderation Mood thoughtful serious Type philosophical ethical When to use this quote - financial decisions - career moves - personal relationships Key Concepts Stoicism ethical behavior self‑control Questions to Reflect On - When has caution prevented you from growth? - How can you differentiate prudence from fear? A Different Perspective Excessive caution may lead to missed opportunities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Calls Cautious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/calls-cautious-5393041/) [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 Calls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coward-calls-5393040/) [Miser Thrifty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/miser-thrifty-758729/) [Misers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/misers/) [Thrifty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thrifty/) ## Related quotes > [The coward regards himself as cautious, the miser as thrifty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/the-coward-regards-himself-as-cautious-the-miser-as-thrifty/) [Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) > [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 coward calls the brave man rash, the rash man calls him a coward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/the-coward-calls-the-brave-man-rash-the-rash-man-calls-him-a-coward/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [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/) > [Who are we really? Combinations of common chemicals that perform mechanical actions for a few years before crumbling back into the original components? Fresh…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/who-are-we-really-combinations-of-common-chemicals-that-perform/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) ## More by Seneca the Younger > [There is nothing that we can properly call our own but our time, and yet everybody fools us out of it who has a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/there-is-nothing-that-we-can-properly-call-our-own-but-our-time-and/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [It is for the superfluous we sweat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/it-is-for-the-superfluous-we-sweat/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [Men trust rather to their eyes than to their ears; the effect of precepts is therefore slow and tedious, whilst that of examples is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/men-trust-rather-to-their-eyes-than-to-their-ears-the-effect-of/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [A great step towards independence is a good-humored stomach, one that is willing to endure rough treatment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/a-great-step-towards-independence-is-a-good-humored-stomach-one-that/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [Men can be divided into 2 groups: one that goes ahead and achieves something, and one that comes after and criticizes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/men-can-be-divided-into-2-groups-one-that-goes-ahead-and-achieves/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [Leisure without study is death, and the grave of a living man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/leisure-without-study-is-death-and-the-grave-of-a-living-man/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [Such as the chain of causes we call Fate, such is the chain of wishes: one links on to another; the whole man is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/such-as-the-chain-of-causes-we-call-fate-such-is-the-chain-of-wishes/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [To rule yourself is the ultimate power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/to-rule-yourself-is-the-ultimate-power/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [The road by precepts is tedious, by example, short and efficacious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/the-road-by-precepts-is-tedious-by-example-short-and-efficacious/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [Misfortune is the test of a person's merit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/misfortune-is-the-test-of-a-person-s-merit/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [He who does not want to die should not want to live. For life is tendered to us with the proviso of death. Life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/he-who-does-not-want-to-die-should-not-want-to-live-for-life-is/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [Let us not seek our disease out of ourselves; 'tis in us, and planted in our bowels; and the mere fact that we do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/let-us-not-seek-our-disease-out-of-ourselves-tis-in-us-and-planted-in/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [After death there is nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/after-death-there-is-nothing/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [Adversity finds at last the man whom she has often passed by.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/adversity-finds-at-last-the-man-whom-she-has-often-passed-by/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [Hesitation is the best cure for anger. The first blows of anger are heavy, but if it waits, it will think again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/hesitation-is-the-best-cure-for-anger-the-first-blows-of-anger-are/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) [Explore all 872 Seneca the Younger quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) ## 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/) > [The coward regards himself as cautious, the miser as thrifty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/the-coward-regards-himself-as-cautious-the-miser-as-thrifty/) [Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) > [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/) [Browse all 501 Cautious quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cautious/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A coward calls himself cautious, a miser thrifty.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Seneca the Younger" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/a-coward-calls-himself-cautious-a-miser-thrifty/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Cautious" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/a-coward-calls-himself-cautious-a-miser-thrifty/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc7/seneca-the-younger-219_cautious_a-coward-calls-himself-cautious-a-miser_3104166.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc7/seneca-the-younger-219_cautious_a-coward-calls-himself-cautious-a-miser_3104166.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc7/seneca-the-younger-219_cautious_a-coward-calls-himself-cautious-a-miser_3104166.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“A coward calls himself cautious, a miser thrifty.” — Seneca the Younger", "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": "Seneca the Younger", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "A coward calls himself cautious, a...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/a-coward-calls-himself-cautious-a-miser-thrifty/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/a-coward-calls-himself-cautious-a-miser-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 } } ] } ```