Discretion Quotes

• I know of no safe depository of the ultimate powers of the society but the people themselves; and if we think them not enlightened enough to exercise their control with a wholesome discretion, the remedy is not to take it from them but to inform their discretion.

  Thomas Jefferson

  Education, Peace, Exercise

  Letter to William Charles Jarvis, 28 Sept. 1820

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• Sincerity is glass, discretion is diamond.

  Andre Maurois

  Glasses, Sincerity, Diamond

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• Nothing is more dangerous than a friend without discretion; even a prudent enemy is preferable.

  Jean de La Fontaine

  Friendship, Life And Love, Enemy

  "The Fables of La Fontaine: Book VIII". Book by Jean de La Fontaine, 1678-1679.

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• Discretion is the perfection of reason, and a guide to us in all the duties of life.

  Walter Scott

  Judging, Perfection, Reason

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• There are many more shining qualities in the mind of man, but there is none so useful as discretion.

  Joseph Addison

  Men, Shining, Mind

  Joseph Addison, Sir Richard Steele (1853). “The Spectator”, p.129

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• Judgment is not upon all occasions required, but discretion always is.

  Lord Chesterfield

  Justice, Judgment, All Occasions

  Lord Chesterfield, David Roberts (2008). “Lord Chesterfield's Letters”, p.352, Oxford University Press

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• The better part of valor is discretion, in the which better part I have saved my life.

  William Shakespeare

  Valor, Offering Advice, Valour

  "The Plays and Poems of Shakspeare".

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• Discretion is the polite word for hypocrisy.

  Christine Keeler

  Hypocrisy, Polite

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• Be discreet in all things, and so render it unnecessary to be mysterious about any.

  Duke of Wellington

  Inspirational, Unnecessary Things, Mysterious

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• Great ability without discretion comes almost invariably to a tragic end

  Leon Gambetta

  Ends, Tragic, Ability

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• Even in a hero's heart
  Discretion is the better part.

  Charles Churchill

  Hero, Heart

  Charles Churchill (1855). “The poetical works of Charles Churcill: With memoir, critical dissertation, and explanatory notes”, p.219

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• Discretion in speech is more than eloquence.

  Francis Bacon

  Inspiration, Speech, Tact

  Francis Bacon, William Rawley (1871). “A harmony of the essays, etc. of Francis Bacon”, p.21

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• Discretion is the perfection of reason, and a guide to us in all the duties of life. It is only found in men of sound sense and understanding.

  Jean de la Bruyere

  Men, Perfection, Understanding

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• Be not too tame neither, but let your own Discretion be your tutor; suit the action to the word, the word to the action.

  William Shakespeare

  Suits, Action, Tutor

  'Hamlet' (1601) act 3, sc. 2, l. [19]

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• Covering discretion with a coat of folly.

  William Shakespeare

  Covering, Coats, Folly

  William Shakespeare (1816). “The Works of William Shakspeare...: Collated Verbatim with the Most Authentic Copies, and Revised, with the Corrections and Illustrations of Various Commentators”, p.401

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• Suit the action to the word, the word to the action.

  William Shakespeare

  Writing, Crafts, Suits

  'Hamlet' (1601) act 3, sc. 2, l. [19]

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• Hikmah (Wisdom) is knowing when to raise your eyebrow instead of your voice.

  Boonaa Mohammed

  Eyebrows, Voice, Knowing

  FaceBook post by Boonaa Mohammed from Sep 14, 2014

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• Every man has his dignity. I'm willing to forget mine, but at my own discretion and not when someone else tells me to.

  Denis Diderot

  Men, Literature, Dignity

  Denis Diderot (1966). “Selected Writings”, New York : Macmillan

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• Bohemia has no banner. It survives by discretion.

  Tennessee Williams

  Banner, Bohemia

  Tennessee Williams (2008). “Camino Real”, p.49, New Directions Publishing

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• Be wiser than other people if you can; but do not tell them so.

  Lord Chesterfield

  Life, Wise, Wisdom

  Lord Chesterfield (2008). “The Modern Chesterfield”, p.34, Wildside Press LLC

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• A lover without indiscretion is no lover at all.

  Thomas Hardy

  Love, Heart, Circumspection

  Hand of Ethelberta (1876) ch. 20

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• I cannot and do not live in the world of discretion, not as a writer, anyway. I would prefer to, I assure you - it would make life easier. But discretion is, unfortunately, not for novelists.

  Philip Roth

  Novelists, World, Easier

  FaceBook post by Philip Roth from Jul 07, 2011

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• Perish discretion, when it interferes With duty!

  Hannah More

  Duty, Interfere

  "Miscellaneous Works: Tragedies. Miscellaneous poems. Hymns and ballads. Sacred Dramas. Coelebs. Practical piety. Moriana".

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• Discretion of speech is more than eloquence, and to speak agreeably to him with whom we deal is more than to speak in good words, or in good order.

  Francis Bacon

  Order, Speech, Speak

  Francis Bacon, David Mallet (1740). “The Works of Francis Bacon, Baron of Verulam, Viscount St. Alban, Lord High Chancellor of England ...: With Several Additional Pieces, Never Before Printed in Any Edition of His Works. To which is Prefixed, a New Life of the Author”, p.349

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• Be advised what thou dost discourse of, and what thou maintainest whether touching religion, state, or vanity; for if thou err in the first, thou shalt be accounted profane; if in the second, dangerous; if in the third, indiscreet and foolish.

  Walter Raleigh

  Vanity, Touching, Religion

  Sir Walter Raleigh, William Oldys, Thomas Birch (1829). “Miscellaneous works”, p.563

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