Wesuffermore，ithasalreadybeenobserved，whenwefallfromabettertoaworsesituation，thanweeverenjoywhenwerisefromaworsetoabetter。Security，therefore，isthefirstandtheprincipalobjectofprudence。Itisaversetoexposeourhealth，ourfortune，ourrank，orreputation，toanysortofhazard。Itisrathercautiousthanenterprising，andmoreanxioustopreservetheadvantageswhichwealreadypossess，thanforwardtopromptustotheacquisitionofstillgreateradvantages。Themethodsofimprovingourfortune，whichitprincipallyrecommendstous，arethosewhichexposetonolossorhazard；realknowledgeandskillinourtradeorprofession，assiduityandindustryintheexerciseofit，frugality，andevensomedegreeofparsimony，inallourexpences。
Theprudentmanalwaysstudiesseriouslyandearnestlytounderstandwhateverheprofessestounderstand，andnotmerelytopersuadeotherpeoplethatheunderstandsit；andthoughhistalentsmaynotalwaysbeverybrilliant，theyarealwaysperfectlygenuine。Heneitherendeavourstoimposeuponyoubythecunningdevicesofanartfulimpostor，norbythearrogantairsofanassumingpedant，norbytheconfidentassertionsofasuperficialandimprudentpretender。Heisnotostentatiousevenoftheabilitieswhichhereallypossesses。Hisconversationissimpleandmodest，andheisaversetoallthequackishartsbywhichotherpeoplesofrequentlythrustthemselvesintopublicnoticeandreputation。Forreputationinhisprofessionheisnaturallydisposedtorelyagooddealuponthesolidityofhisknowledgeandabilities；andhedoesnotalwaysthinkofcultivatingthefavourofthoselittleclubsandcabals，who，inthesuperiorartsandsciences，sooftenerectthemselvesintothesupremejudgesofmerit；andwhomakeittheirbusinesstocelebratethetalentsandvirtuesofoneanother，andtodecrywhatevercancomeintocompetitionwiththem。Ifheeverconnectshimselfwithanysocietyofthiskind，itismerelyinself-defence，notwithaviewtoimposeuponthepublic，buttohinderthepublicfrombeingimposedupon，tohisdisadvantage，bytheclamours，thewhispers，ortheintrigues，eitherofthatparticularsociety，orofsomeotherofthesamekind。
Theprudentmanisalwayssincere，andfeelshorrorattheverythoughtofexposinghimselftothedisgracewhichattendsuponthedetectionoffalsehood。Butthoughalwayssincere，heisnotalwaysfrankandopen；andthoughhenevertellsanythingbutthetruth，hedoesnotalwaysthinkhimselfbound，whennotproperlycalledupon，totellthewholetruth。Asheiscautiousinhisactions，soheisreservedinhisspeech；andneverrashlyorunnecessarilyobtrudeshisopinionconcerningeitherthingsorpersons。
Theprudentman，thoughnotalwaysdistinguishedbythemostexquisitesensibility，isalwaysverycapableoffriendship。Buthisfriendshipisnotthatardentandpassionate，buttoooftentransitoryaffection，whichappearssodelicioustothegenerosityofyouthandinexperience。Itisasedate，butsteadyandfaithfulattachmenttoafewwell-triedandwell-chosencompanions；inthechoiceofwhomheisnotguidedbythegiddyadmirationofshiningaccomplishments，butbythesoberesteemofmodesty，discretion，andgoodconduct。Butthoughcapableoffriendship，heisnotalwaysmuchdisposedtogeneralsociality。
Herarelyfrequents，andmorerarelyfiguresinthoseconvivialsocietieswhicharedistinguishedforthejollityandgaietyoftheirconversation。Theirwayoflifemighttooofteninterferewiththeregularityofhistemperance，mightinterruptthesteadinessofhisindustry，orbreakinuponthestrictnessofhisfrugality。