p. 45 | Discretion: The Quality That Gives Other Virtues Value

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Aug 2, 1877

Discretion: The Quality That Gives Other Virtues Value

DISCRETION.—There are many more shining qualities in the mind of man, but there are none so useful as discretion; it is this indeed which gives a value to all the rest, which sets them at work in their proper times and places, and turns them to the advantage of the person who is possessed of them. Without it, learning is pedantry, and wit impertinence; virtue itself looks like weakness; the best parts only qualify a man to be more sprightly in errors, and active to his own prejudices.—Addison.