Caution is the eldest child of Wisdom.

Victor Hugo (1802-1885) French writer

(Attributed)

I was unable to find an original citation (in English) for Hugo, but attributions to him were in circulation by 1896 and 1904.

At the same time, the phrase "la Prudence est la fille aînée de la Sagesse" (caution is the eldest daughter of wisdom) also shows up in 1896 as a generic reference, not identified with Hugo. This might either be a French proverb assigned to Hugo as a famous French writer, or a Hugo phrase that became proverbial.