The Role of Prudence

“Think about what great advice it is when you sit down at a computer and screw your life up forever by telling someone to go to hell, or something else, in 30 seconds and you can’t erase it,” Warren Buffett once said. In other words, think twice about giving someone a piece of your mind. As tempting as it may be in the moment, it’s likely not worth the long-term risk to your reputation. After all, how you treat others is a reflection of your own values.

Dr. Mike Scherschligt outlines 3 steps to practice prudence in our choices.

Step 1: Deliberation. This is the stage where we gather all the relevant information, starting with a consideration of moral principles. We must also give a careful examination concretely to be sure that we have understood it as fully as possible. It is also sometimes advisable to take counsel with those who are themselves experienced, prudent, and knowledgeable about the matter at hand. We can’t let our own feelings or preferences get in the way of a true understanding of the facts.

Step 2: Judgment. After deliberating, we must weigh all the evidence fairly, and then figure out the best course of action. Judgment separates the relevant information from the irrelevant information, and then applies it to the problem at hand. You can’t just think about something forever; you have to come to some sort of conclusion. Thinking about some issue without actually arriving at a practical result does no one any good.

Step 3: Execution. Once we judge the right thing to do, we must act! If you figure out the proper action, but then fail to perform it, what’s the benefit? You do not have the virtue of prudence until you actually do what you have judged to be right. Are you thoughtless? Indecisive? Inconsistent and unreliable? Once you identify your weakness, you can make the conscious decision to work on that area of prudence, and so, hopefully improve in this fundamental virtue.

Also, don’t wait until you have absolute certainty before making a practical decision. As Josef Pieper states, “The prudent man… does not deceive himself with false certainties.” Remember that practical matters don’t have the same logical exactness or clarity as mathematical equations, so if you wait until you’ve perfectly proven the right thing to do, you’ll never do anything. All you can do is to try and understand the situation as best you can, given the information and time available. Then make a decision and carry it out faithfully. We have to realize that every practical decision entails risk; there is no security that our decision will not result in difficult consequences.

“We must expect reverses, even defeats. They are sent to teach us wisdom and prudence, to call forth greater energies, and to prevent our falling into greater disasters.”
-Rebert E. Lee

 “Prudence is foresight and far-sightedness. It’s the ability to make immediate decisions on the basis of their longer-range effects.”
-John Ortberg

“Courage is a virtue only so far as it is directed by prudence.”
-Francois Fenelon

“Silence is the sanctuary of prudence.”
-Baltasar Gracian

“Prudence is no doubt a valuable quality, but prudence which degenerates into timidity is very seldom the path to safety.”
-Viscount Cecil