Man is least himself when he talks in his own person. Give him a mask, and he will tell you the truth.
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish Poet, Playwright
Beware of the man who works hard to learn something, learns it, and finds himself no wiser than before. He is full of murderous resentment of people who are ignorant without having come by their ignorance the hard way.
—Kurt Vonnegut (1922–2007) American Novelist, Short Story Writer
Beware of one who has nothing to lose.
—Italian Proverb
Be vigilant; guard your mind against negative thoughts.
—Buddhist Teaching
Of all the thirty-six alternatives, running away is best.
—Chinese Proverb
Caution is the parent of safety.
—Common Proverb
He is most free from danger, who, even when safe, is on his guard.
—Publilius Syrus (fl.85–43 BCE) Syrian-born Roman Latin Writer
Whenever our neighbor’s house is on fire, it cannot be amiss for the engines to play a little on our own. Better to be despised for too anxious apprehensions, than ruined by too confident security.
—Edmund Burke (1729–97) British Philosopher, Statesman
Be slow of tongue and quick of eye.
—Miguel de Cervantes (1547–1616) Spanish Novelist
Beware the hobby that eats.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
The torment of precautions often exceeds the dangers to be avoided. It is sometimes better to abandon one’s self to destiny.
—Napoleon I (1769–1821) Emperor of France
Caution is not cowardly. Carelessness is not courage
—Unknown
Set the foot down with distrust on the crust of the world—it is thin.
—Edna St. Vincent Millay (1892–1950) American Poet, Playwright, Feminist
To fear the worst, oft cures the worst.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
Caution is the confidential agent of selfishness.
—Woodrow Wilson (1856–1924) American Head of State
I don’t like these cold, precise, perfect people, who, in order not to speak wrong, never speak at all, and in order not to do wrong, never do anything.
—Henry Ward Beecher (1813–87) American Clergyman, Writer
Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty.
—Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826) American Head of State, Lawyer
Look twice before you leap.
—Charlotte Bronte (1816–1855) English Novelist, Poet
He that is overcautious will accomplish but very little.
—Friedrich Schiller (1759–1805) German Poet, Dramatist
To withdraw is not to run away, and to stay is no wise action when there is more reason to fear than to hope. ‘Tis the part of a wise man to keep himself today for tomorrow, and not venture all his eggs in one basket.
—Miguel de Cervantes (1547–1616) Spanish Novelist
The chief danger in life is that you may take too many precautions.
—Alfred Adler (1870–1937) Austrian Psychiatrist
Trust not him that hath once broken faith; he who betrayed thee once, will betray thee again.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
Things done well and with care, exempt themselves from fear.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
Look before you leap; see before you go.
—Thomas Tusser
When clouds are seen wise men put on their cloaks.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
Prudence is but experience, which equal time, equally bestows on all men, in those things they equally apply themselves unto.
—Thomas Hobbes (1588–1679) English Political Philosopher
The torment of precautions often exceeds often exceeds the dangers to be avoided. It is sometimes better to abandon one’s self to destiny.
—Napoleon I (1769–1821) Emperor of France
They that are on their guard and appear ready to receive their adversaries, are in much less danger of being attacked than the supine, secure and negligent.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
Always count the cost.
—Common Proverb
Every human being has, like Socrates, an attendant spirit; and wise are they who obey its signals. If it does not always tell us what to do, it always cautions us what not to do.
—Lydia Maria Child (1802–80) American Abolitionist, Writer