Avoid committing yourself to risky enterprises

This is one of the chief goals of prudence.

People of great talent keep far away from extremities.

There is a long way to walk from one extreme to another, and the prudent stick to the middle ground. Only after long deliberation do they decide to act, for it is easier to hide oneself from danger than to overcome it. Dangerous situations place our judgment in jeopardy, and it is safer to flee from them entirely. One danger leads to another, greater one, and brings us to the edge of disaster.

Some people are rash, because of their temperament or their national origin, and they are quick to commit themselves and place others in danger.

But the person who walks in the light of reason sizes up the situation and sees that there is more courage in avoiding danger than in conquering it. He sees that there is already one rash fool, and avoids adding another.