Look before you leap; see before you go.
—Thomas Tusser
Trust not him that hath once broken faith; he who betrayed thee once, will betray thee again.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
Always count the cost.
—Common Proverb
Things done well and with care, exempt themselves from fear.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
There is a significant Latin proverb; to wit: Who will guard the guards?
—Josh Billings (Henry Wheeler Shaw) (1818–85) American Humorist, Author, Lecturer
Beware of one who has nothing to lose.
—Italian Proverb
Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty.
—Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826) American Head of State, Lawyer
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
When a fox preaches, take care of your geese.
—Common Proverb
Be vigilant; guard your mind against negative thoughts.
—Buddhist Teaching
Take a second look … it costs you nothing.
—Chinese Proverb
Open your mouth and purse cautiously; and your stock of wealth and reputation shall, at least in repute, be great.
—Johann Georg Ritter von Zimmermann (1728–95) Swiss Philosophical Writer, Naturalist, Physician
The chief danger in life is that you may take too many precautions.
—Alfred Adler (1870–1937) Austrian Psychiatrist
Don’t throw away the old bucket until you know whether the new one holds water.
—Swedish Proverb
Of all forms of caution, caution in love is perhaps the most fatal to true happiness.
—Bertrand A. Russell (1872–1970) British Philosopher, Mathematician, Social Critic
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
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
Be slow of tongue and quick of eye.
—Miguel de Cervantes (1547–1616) Spanish Novelist
Caution is the confidential agent of selfishness.
—Woodrow Wilson (1856–1924) American Head of State
When clouds are seen wise men put on their cloaks.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
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
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
If one has to jump a stream and knows how wide it is, he will not jump. If he does not know how wide it is, he will jump, and six times out of ten he will make it.
—Persian Proverb
There is, indeed, nothing that so much seduces reason from vigilance, as the thought of passing life with an amiable woman.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
It is the bright day that brings forth the adder, and that craves wary walking.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
Beware of all enterprises that require new clothes.
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–62) American Philosopher
He that is overcautious will accomplish but very little.
—Friedrich Schiller (1759–1805) German Poet, Dramatist
It is well to learn caution by the misfortunes of others.
—Publilius Syrus (fl.85–43 BCE) Syrian-born Roman Latin Writer
To fear the worst, oft cures the worst.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
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
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