All 10 Uses of
prudent
in
The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin
- He had a mechanical genius too, and, on occasion, was very handy in the use of other tradesmen's tools; but his great excellence lay in a sound understanding and solid judgment in prudential matters, both in private and publick affairs.†
prudential = arising from or characterized by being sensible and careful
- By this means he turned our attention to what was good, just, and prudent in the conduct of life; and little or no notice was ever taken of what related to the victuals on the table, whether it was well or ill dressed, in or out of season, of good or bad flavor, preferable or inferior to this or that other thing of the kind, so that I was brought up in such a perfect inattention to those matters as to be quite indifferent what kind of food was set before me, and so unobservant of it, that to this day if I am asked I can scarce tell a few hours after dinner what I dined upon.†
- He was a pious and prudent man; She, a discreet and virtuous woman.†
- telling me, that by steady industry and a prudent parsimony I might save enough by the time I was one-and-twenty to set me up;†
- But Sir William, on reading his letter, said he was too prudent.†
- I had a great respect and affection for her, and had some reason to believe she had the same for me; but, as I was about to take a long voyage, and we were both very young, only a little above eighteen, it was thought most prudent by her mother to prevent our going too far at present, as a marriage, if it was to take place, would be more convenient after my return, when I should be, as I expected, set up in my business.†
- we want, above all things, rules of prudence in ordinary affairs;
*prudence = good sense and caution
- that the existence of such a society should be kept a secret, till it was become considerable, to prevent solicitations for the admission of improper persons, but that the members should each of them search among his acquaintance for ingenuous, well-disposed youths, to whom, with prudent caution, the scheme should be gradually communicated;†
- And it shows how much more profitable it is prudently to remove, than to resent, return, and continue inimical proceedings.†
prudently = with good sense and caution
- These embarrassments that the Quakers suffer'd from having establish'd and published it as one of their principles that no kind of war was lawful, and which, being once published, they could not afterwards, however they might change their minds, easily get rid of, reminds me of what I think a more prudent conduct in another sect among us, that of the Dunkers.†
Definitions:
-
(1)
(prudent) sensible and careful
-
(2)
(meaning too rare to warrant focus) meaning too rare to warrant focus:
Prudence is also a female name.