Wesuffermore，ithasalreadybeenobserved，whenwefallfromabettertoaworsesituation，thanweeverenjoywhenwerisefromaworsetoabetter。Security，therefore，isthefirstandtheprincipalobjectofprudence。Itisaversetoexposeourhealth，ourfortune，ourrank，orreputation，toanysortofhazard。Itisrathercautiousthanenterprising，andmoreanxioustopreservetheadvantageswhichwealreadypossess，thanforwardtopromptustotheacquisitionofstillgreateradvantages。Themethodsofimprovingourfortune，whichitprincipallyrecommendstous，arethosewhichexposetonolossorhazard；realknowledgeandskillinourtradeorprofession，assiduityandindustryintheexerciseofit，frugality，andevensomedegreeofparsimony，inallourexpences。
　　Theprudentmanalwaysstudiesseriouslyandearnestlytounderstandwhateverheprofessestounderstand，andnotmerelytopersuadeotherpeoplethatheunderstandsit；andthoughhistalentsmaynotalwaysbeverybrilliant，theyarealwaysperfectlygenuine。Heneitherendeavourstoimposeuponyoubythecunningdevicesofanartfulimpostor，norbythearrogantairsofanassumingpedant，norbytheconfidentassertionsofasuperficialandimprudentpretender。Heisnotostentatiousevenoftheabilitieswhichhereallypossesses。Hisconversationissimpleandmodest，andheisaversetoallthequackishartsbywhichotherpeoplesofrequentlythrustthemselvesintopublicnoticeandreputation。Forreputationinhisprofessionheisnaturallydisposedtorelyagooddealuponthesolidityofhisknowledgeandabilities；andhedoesnotalwaysthinkofcultivatingthefavourofthoselittleclubsandcabals，who，inthesuperiorartsandsciences，sooftenerectthemselvesintothesupremejudgesofmerit；andwhomakeittheirbusinesstocelebratethetalentsandvirtuesofoneanother，andtodecrywhatevercancomeintocompetitionwiththem。Ifheeverconnectshimselfwithanysocietyofthiskind，itismerelyinself-defence，notwithaviewtoimposeuponthepublic，buttohinderthepublicfrombeingimposedupon，tohisdisadvantage，bytheclamours，thewhispers，ortheintrigues，eitherofthatparticularsociety，orofsomeotherofthesamekind。
　　Theprudentmanisalwayssincere，andfeelshorrorattheverythoughtofexposinghimselftothedisgracewhichattendsuponthedetectionoffalsehood。Butthoughalwayssincere，heisnotalwaysfrankandopen；andthoughhenevertellsanythingbutthetruth，hedoesnotalwaysthinkhimselfbound，whennotproperlycalledupon，totellthewholetruth。Asheiscautiousinhisactions，soheisreservedinhisspeech；andneverrashlyorunnecessarilyobtrudeshisopinionconcerningeitherthingsorpersons。
　　Theprudentman，thoughnotalwaysdistinguishedbythemostexquisitesensibility，isalwaysverycapableoffriendship。Buthisfriendshipisnotthatardentandpassionate，buttoooftentransitoryaffection，whichappearssodelicioustothegenerosityofyouthandinexperience。Itisasedate，butsteadyandfaithfulattachmenttoafewwell-triedandwell-chosencompanions；inthechoiceofwhomheisnotguidedbythegiddyadmirationofshiningaccomplishments，butbythesoberesteemofmodesty，discretion，andgoodconduct。Butthoughcapableoffriendship，heisnotalwaysmuchdisposedtogeneralsociality。
　　Herarelyfrequents，andmorerarelyfiguresinthoseconvivialsocietieswhicharedistinguishedforthejollityandgaietyoftheirconversation。Theirwayoflifemighttooofteninterferewiththeregularityofhistemperance，mightinterruptthesteadinessofhisindustry，orbreakinuponthestrictnessofhisfrugality。
　　Butthoughhisconversationmaynotalwaysbeverysprightlyordiverting，itisalwaysperfectlyinoffensive。Hehatesthethoughtofbeingguiltyofanypetulanceorrudeness。Heneverassumesimpertinentlyoveranybody，and，uponallcommonoccasions，iswillingtoplacehimselfratherbelowthanabovehisequals。Bothinhisconductandconversation，heisanexactobserverofdecency，andrespectswithanalmostreligiousscrupulosity，alltheestablisheddecorumsandceremonialsofsociety。And，inthisrespect，hesetsamuchbetterexamplethanhasfrequentlybeendonebymenofmuchmoresplendidtalentsandvirtues；who，inallages，fromthatofSocratesandAristippus，downtothatofDrSwiftandVoltaire，andfromthatofPhilipandAlexandertheGreat，downtothatofthegreatCzarPeterofMoscovy，havetoooftendistinguishedthemselvesbythemostimproperandeveninsolentcontemptofalltheordinarydecorumsoflifeandconversation，andwhohavetherebysetthemostperniciousexampletothosewhowishtoresemblethem，andwhotoooftencontentthemselveswithimitatingtheirfollies，withoutevenattemptingtoattaintheirperfections。
　　Inthesteadinessofhisindustryandfrugality，inhissteadilysacrificingtheeaseandenjoymentofthepresentmomentfortheprobableexpectationofthestillgreatereaseandenjoymentofamoredistantbutmorelastingperiodoftime，theprudentmanisalwaysbothsupportedandrewardedbytheentireapprobationoftheimpartialspectator，andoftherepresentativeoftheimpartialspectator，themanwithinthebreast。Theimpartialspectatordoesnotfeelhimselfwornoutbythepresentlabourofthosewhoseconducthesurveys；nordoeshefeelhimselfsolicitedbytheimportunatecallsoftheirpresentappetites。Tohimtheirpresent，andwhatislikelytobetheirfuturesituation，areverynearlythesame:heseesthemnearlyatthesamedistance，andisaffectedbythemverynearlyinthesamemanner。Heknows，however，thattothepersonsprincipallyconcerned，theyareveryfarfrombeingthesame，andthattheynaturallyaffecttheminaverydifferentmanner。Hecannotthereforebutapprove，andevenapplaud，thatproperexertionofself-command，whichenablesthemtoactasiftheirpresentandtheirfuturesituationaffectedthemnearlyinthesamemannerinwhichtheyaffecthim。
　　Themanwholiveswithinhisincome，isnaturallycontentedwithhissituation，which，bycontinual，thoughsmallaccumulations，isgrowingbetterandbettereveryday。Heisenabledgraduallytorelax，bothintherigourofhisparsimonyandintheseverityofhisapplication；andhefeelswithdoublesatisfactionthisgradualincreaseofeaseandenjoyment，fromhavingfeltbeforethehardshipwhichattendedthewantofthem。
　　Hehasnoanxietytochangesocomfortableasituation，anddoesnotgoinquestofnewenterprisesandadventures，whichmightendanger，butcouldnotwellincrease，thesecuretranquillitywhichheactuallyenjoys。Ifheentersintoanynewprojectsorenterprises，theyarelikelytobewellconcertedandwellprepared。Hecanneverbehurriedordroveintothembyanynecessity，buthasalwaystimeandleisuretodeliberatesoberlyandcoollyconcerningwhatarelikelytobetheirconsequences。
　　Theprudentmanisnotwillingtosubjecthimselftoanyresponsibilitywhichhisdutydoesnotimposeuponhim。Heisnotabustlerinbusinesswherehehasnoconcern；isnotameddlerinotherpeople’saffairs；isnotaprofessedcounsellororadviser，whoobtrudeshisadvicewherenobodyisaskingit。Heconfineshimself，asmuchashisdutywillpermit，tohisownaffairs，andhasnotasteforthatfoolishimportancewhichmanypeoplewishtoderivefromappearingtohavesomeinfluenceinthemanagementofthoseofotherpeople。Heisaversetoenterintoanypartydisputes，hatesfaction，andisnotalwaysveryforwardtolistentothevoiceevenofnobleandgreatambition。
　　Whendistinctlycalledupon，hewillnotdeclinetheserviceofhiscountry，buthewillnotcabalinordertoforcehimselfintoit；andwouldbemuchbetterpleasedthatthepublicbusinesswerewellmanagedbysomeotherperson，thanthathehimselfshouldhavethetrouble，andincurtheresponsibility，ofmanagingit。Inthebottomofhishearthewouldprefertheundisturbedenjoymentofsecuretranquillity，notonlytoallthevainsplendourofsuccessfulambition，buttotherealandsolidgloryofperformingthegreatestandmostmagnanimousactions。
　　Prudence，inshort，whendirectedmerelytothecareofthehealth，ofthefortune，andoftherankandreputationoftheindividual，thoughitisregardedasamostrespectableandeven，insomedegree，asanamiableandagreeablequality，yetitneverisconsideredasone，eitherofthemostendearing，orofthemostennoblingofthevirtues。Itcommandsacertaincoldesteem，butseemsnotentitledtoanyveryardentloveoradmiration。
　　Wiseandjudiciousconduct，whendirectedtogreaterandnoblerpurposesthanthecareofthehealth，thefortune，therankandreputationoftheindividual，isfrequentlyandveryproperlycalledprudence。Wetalkoftheprudenceofthegreatgeneral，ofthegreatstatesman，ofthegreatlegislator。
　　Prudenceis，inallthesecases，combinedwithmanygreaterandmoresplendidvirtues，withvalour，withextensiveandstrongbenevolence，withasacredregardtotherulesofjustice，andallthesesupportedbyaproperdegreeofself-command。Thissuperiorprudence，whencarriedtothehighestdegreeofperfection，necessarilysupposestheart，thetalent，andthehabitordispositionofactingwiththemostperfectproprietyineverypossiblecircumstanceandsituation。Itnecessarilysupposestheutmostperfectionofalltheintellectualandofallthemoralvirtues。Itisthebestheadjoinedtothebestheart。
　　Itisthemostperfectwisdomcombinedwiththemostperfectvirtue。ItconstitutesverynearlythecharacteroftheAcademicalorPeripateticsage，astheinferiorprudencedoesthatoftheEpicurean。
　　Mereimprudence，orthemerewantofthecapacitytotakecareofone’s-self，is，withthegenerousandhumane，theobjectofcompassion；withthoseoflessdelicatesentiments，ofneglect，or，atworst，ofcontempt，butneverofhatredorindignation。Whencombinedwithothervices，however，itaggravatesinthehighestdegreetheinfamyanddisgracewhichwouldotherwiseattendthem。Theartfulknave，whosedexterityandaddressexempthim，thoughnotfromstrongsuspicions，yetfrompunishmentordistinctdetection，istoooftenreceivedintheworldwithanindulgencewhichhebynomeansdeserves。Theawkwardandfoolishone，who，forwantofthisdexterityandaddress，isconvictedandbroughttopunishment，istheobjectofuniversalhatred，contempt，andderision。Incountrieswheregreatcrimesfrequentlypassunpunished，themostatrociousactionsbecomealmostfamiliar，andceasetoimpressthepeoplewiththathorrorwhichisuniversallyfeltincountrieswhereanexactadministrationofjusticetakesplace。Theinjusticeisthesameinbothcountries；buttheimprudenceisoftenverydifferent。Inthelatter，greatcrimesareevidentlygreatfollies。Intheformer，theyarenotalwaysconsideredassuch。
　　InItaly，duringthegreaterpartofthesixteenthcentury，assassinations，murders，andevenmurdersundertrust，seemtohavebeenalmostfamiliaramongthesuperiorranksofpeople。
　　CaesarBorgiainvitedfourofthelittleprincesinhisneighbourhood，whoallpossessedlittlesovereignties，andcommandedlittlearmiesoftheirown，toafriendlyconferenceatSenigaglia，where，assoonastheyarrived，heputthemalltodeath。Thisinfamousaction，thoughcertainlynotapprovedofeveninthatageofcrimes，seemstohavecontributedverylittletothediscredit，andnotintheleasttotheruinoftheperpetrator。Thatruinhappenedafewyearsafterfromcausesaltogetherdisconnectedwiththiscrime。Machiavel，notindeedamanofthenicestmoralityevenforhisowntimes，wasresident，asministerfromtherepublicofFlorence，atthecourtofCaesarBorgiawhenthiscrimewascommitted。Hegivesaveryparticularaccountofit，andinthatpure，elegant，andsimplelanguagewhichdistinguishesallhiswritings。Hetalksofitverycoolly；
　　ispleasedwiththeaddresswithwhichCaesarBorgiaconductedit；hasmuchcontemptfortheduperyandweaknessofthesufferers；butnocompassionfortheirmiserableanduntimelydeath，andnosortofindignationatthecrueltyandfalsehoodoftheirmurderer。Theviolenceandinjusticeofgreatconquerorsareoftenregardedwithfoolishwonderandadmiration；thoseofpettythieves，robbers，andmurderers，withcontempt，hatred，andevenhorroruponalloccasions。Theformer，thoughtheyareahundredtimesmoremischievousanddestructive，yetwhensuccessful，theyoftenpassfordeedsofthemostheroicmagnanimity。Thelatterarealwaysviewedwithhatredandaversion，asthefollies，aswellasthecrimes，ofthelowestandmostworthlessofmankind。Theinjusticeoftheformeriscertainly，atleast，asgreatasthatofthelatter；butthefollyandimprudencearenotnearsogreat。Awickedandworthlessmanofpartsoftengoesthroughtheworldwithmuchmorecreditthanhedeserves。Awickedandworthlessfoolappearsalways，ofallmortals，themosthateful，aswellasthemostcontemptible。Asprudencecombinedwithothervirtues，constitutesthenoblest；soimprudencecombinedwithothervices，constitutesthevilestofallcharacters。