Discretion Quotes

There are divers men who make a great show of loyalty, and pretend to such discretion in the hidden things they hear, that at the end folk come to put faith in them.

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.

So long as the laws remain such as they are today, employ some discretion: loud opinion forces us to do so; but in privacy and silence let us compensate ourselves for that cruel chastity we are obliged to display in public.

The fleet sailed to its war base in the North Sea, headed not so much for some rendezvous with glory as for rendezvous with discretion.

Even private persons in due season, with discretion and temper, may reprove others, whom they observe to commit sin, or follow bad courses, out of charitable design, and with hope to reclaim them.

The fact is that censorship always defeats its own purpose, for it creates, in the end, the kind of society that is incapable of exercising real discretion.

Discretion is nothing other than the sense of justice with respect to the sphere of the intimate contents of life.

We schoolmasters must temper discretion with deceit.

A sound discretion is not so much indicated by never making a mistake as by never repeating it.

Philosophy is nothing but discretion.

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

Every man has a certain sphere of discretion which he has a right to expect shall not be infringed by his neighbours. This right flows from the very nature of man.

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.

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

Most high courts in other nations do not have discretion, such as we enjoy, in selecting the cases that the high court reviews. Our court is virtually alone in the amount of discretion it has.

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

By placing discretion in the hands of an official to grant or deny a license, such a statute creates a threat of censorship that by its very existence chills free speech.

Great is our admiration of the orator who speaks with fluency and discretion.

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

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.

Discretion is not the better part of biography.

The first duty of a state is to see that every child born therein shall be well housed, clothed, fed and educated till it attains years of discretion.

I think the International Criminal Court could be a threat to American security interests, because the prosecutor of the court has enormous discretion in going after war crimes. And the way the Statute of Rome is written, responsibility for war crimes can be taken all the way up the chain of command.

Discretion is the polite word for hypocrisy.

Censorship always defeats it own purpose, for it creates in the end the kind of society that is incapable of exercising real discretion.

It is the custom of the Roman Church which I unworthily serve with the help of God, to tolerate some things, to turn a blind eye to some, following the spirit of discretion rather than the rigid letter of the law.

Notable talents are not necessarily connected with discretion.

The rest is a mere matter of detail, to be settled with judgment, discretion, and caution.

Depart from discretion when it interferes with duty.