Prudence

Solomon asked God for wisdom which was granted to him.

Solomon and the Plan for the Temple, as in 1 Kings 6, illustration from a Bible card published by the Providence Lithograph Company

Prudence is the ability to use reason and good judgement to manage oneself. The opposite of prudence is rashness or, more generally, foolishness. An example of prudence would be saving money or other goods during profitable times in order to have something to fall back on in more trying circumstances (Joseph set a good precedent for this as viceroy of Egypt).

In Christian tradition, prudence (or wisdom) is one of the four cardinal virtues. Solomon is the foremost example of this virtue, before his wives turned away his heart imprudently toward other gods (1 Kings 11:1-11).

External links

• What is Prudence?, Diocese of La Crosse

• In Praise of Prudence: What the Cardinal Virtues Can Teach Us About the Splintering of Evangelicalism, ClearlyReformed.org

• The Cardinal Virtues: Prudence, CatholicGentleman.com