Prudence
![The crowned Prudencia, carrying scales, allegorically rides a wagon to [[Heaven](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/80/The_crowned_Prudencia%2C_riding_a_wagon_and_speaking_to_women_Wellcome_L0029370.jpg)
The word derives from the 14th-century Old French word , which, in turn, derives from the Latin meaning "foresight, sagacity". It is often associated with wisdom, insight, and knowledge. The virtue of prudence is the ability to judge between virtuous and vicious actions, not only in a general sense, but with regard to appropriate actions at a given time and place. Although prudence itself does not perform any actions, and is concerned solely with knowledge, all virtues are regulated by it. For example, distinguishing when acts are courageous, as opposed to reckless or cowardly, is an act of prudence.
In modern English, the word "prudence" has become closely associated with cautiousness. In this sense, prudence is a virtue that involves taking calculated risks, but excessive caution can become a vice of cowardice.
In the ''Nicomachean Ethics'', Aristotle gives a lengthy account of the virtue ()—traditionally translated as "prudence", although this has become problematic as the modern usage of that word has changed. More recently has been translated by such terms as "practical wisdom", "practical judgment", or "rational choice". Provided by Wikipedia