Prudent Judgment Quotes

It's good to trust others but, not to do so is much better.

Berkshire was built on the eternal verities: basic mathematics, basic horse sense, basic fear, and basic diagnosis of human nature to make predictions regarding human behavior. We stuck to the basics with a certain amount of discipline and it has worked out quite well.

Skepticism, like chastity, should not be relinquished too readily.

There's a difference between having an edge and being stupid.

One cool judgement is worth a thousand hasty councils.

A ginooine statesman should be on his guard, if he must hev beliefs, not to b'lieve 'em too hard.

I knew a wise man that had it for a by-word, when he saw men hasten to a conclusion, "Stay a little, that we may make an end the sooner."

Hence intellect[ual perception] is both a beginning and an end, for the demonstrations arise from these, and concern them. As a result, one ought to pay attention to the undemonstrated assertions and opinions of experienced and older people, or of the prudent, no less than to demonstrations, for, because the have an experienced eye, they see correctly.

Where wisdom is called for, force is of little use.

How prone to doubt, how cautious are the wise!

Never trust the advice of a man in difficulty.

People had J.F.K. all wrong. They thought of him as a dashing, deciding type. He was an extremely hesitant person who checked the ice in front of him all the time.

He who forgives readily only invites offense.

The true statesman is the one who is willing to take risks.

I have a philosophy that has guided me throughout all of my scientific career, and that is, I think of myself as a fairly thoughtful person. I don't go into projects impetuously, and I try to select important problems.

Every heroic act measures itself by its contempt of some external good. But it finds its own success at last, and then the prudent also extol.

Before thy undertaking of any design, weigh the glory of thy action with the danger of the attempt; if the glory outweigh the danger, it is cowardice to neglect it; if the danger exceed the glory, it is rashness to attempt it; if the balances stand poised, let thy own genius cast them.

In principle, skeptics are neither closed-minded nor cynical. We are curious but cautious.

A MAN FEARED A man feared that he might find an assassin; Another that he might find a victim. One was more wise than the other.

Those who are clever in imagination are far more pleased with themselves than prudent men could reasonably be.

Do nothing till thou hast well considered the end of it.

I hate to see prudence clinging to the green suckers of youth; 'tis like ivy round a sapling, and spoils the growth of the tree.