Self-control seldom leads astray.
[以約、失之者鮮矣。]
Confucius (c. 551- c. 479 BC) Chinese philosopher, sage, politician [孔夫子 (Kǒng Fūzǐ, K'ung Fu-tzu, K'ung Fu Tse), 孔子 (Kǒngzǐ, Chungni), 孔丘 (Kǒng Qiū, K'ung Ch'iu)]
The Analects [論語, 论语, Lúnyǔ], Book 4, verse 23 (4.23) (6th C. BC – AD 3rd C.) [tr. Leys (1997)]
(Source)
(Source (Chinese)). Alternate translations:
The cautious seldom err.
[tr. Legge (1861)]
Those who keep within restraints are seldom losers.
[tr. Jennings (1895)]
He who wants little seldom goes wrong.
[tr. Ku Hung-Ming (1898); alternate: "He who confines his sphere ..."]
The self-restrained seldom err.
[tr. Soothill (1910)]
Self-restraint avoids error.
[tr. Soothill (1910), alternate]
Those who have gone astray through self-restraint are few.
[tr. Soothill (1910), alternate]
Those who consume their own smoke seldom get lost. The concise seldom err.
[tr. Pound (1933)]
Those who err on the side of strictness are few indeed!
[tr. Waley (1938)]
When strict with oneself one rarely fails.
[tr. Ware (1950)]
It is rare for a man to miss the mark through holding on to essentials.
[tr. Lau (1979)]
There are few indeed who fail in something through exercising restraint.
[tr. Dawson (1993)]
Those who err through self-restraint are rare indeed.
[tr. Huang (1997)]
The persons who lose because of restraining themselves, are few.
[tr. Cai/Yu (1998), #89]
It is rare indeed for someone to go wrong due to personal restraint. [tr. Ames/Rosemont (1998)]
Those who err on the side of strictness are few.
[tr. Brooks/Brooks (1998)]
To lose by caution is rare indeed.
[tr. Hinton (1998)]
Very few go astray who comport themselves with restraint.
[tr. Slingerland (2003)]
Those who go wrong by holding back are few.
[tr. Watson (2007)]
Few are those who make mistakes by knowing to hold back.
[tr. Annping Chin (2014)]
If you practice self-control according to the rules of Li, you will make fewer mistakes.
[tr. Li (2020)]
Quotations about:
deliberation
Note not all quotations have been tagged, so Search may find additional quotes on this topic.
The pretext for indecisiveness is commonly mature deliberation; but in reality indecisive men occupy themselves less in deliberation than others; for to him who fears to decide, deliberation (which has a foretaste of that fear) soon becomes intolerably irksome, and the mind escapes from the anxiety of it into alien themes.
Henry Taylor (1800-1886) English dramatist, poet, bureaucrat, man of letters
The Statesman: An Ironical Treatise on the Art of Succeeding, ch. 21 (1836)
(Source)
FRIAR LAWRENCE: Wisely and slow. They stumble that run fast.
William Shakespeare (1564-1616) English dramatist and poet
Romeo and Juliet, Act 2, sc. 3, l. 101 (2.3.101) (c. 1594)
(Source)
Make haste slowly.
Augustus (63 BC - AD 14) Roman Emperor, statesman [Imperator Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus; b. Gaius Octavius]
(Attributed)
In Suetonius, Lives of the Caesars (c. AD 121). Quoting a Greek proverb, according to Aulus Gellius.
Alt. trans.: "Hasten deliberately."
Yet for a long time mortal men have discussed the question whether success in arms depends more on strength of body or excellence of mind; for before you begin, deliberation is necessary, when you have deliberated, prompt action. Thus each of these, being incomplete of itself, requires the other’s aid.
[Sed diu magnum inter mortalis certamen fuit vine corporis an virtute animi res militaris magis procederet. Nam et prius quam incipias, consulto, et ubi consulueris, mature facto opus est. Ita utrumque per se indigens alterum alterius auxilio eget.]
Sallust (c. 86-35 BC) Roman historian and politician [Gaius Sallustius Crispus]
Bellum Catilinae [The War of Catiline; The Conspiracy of Catiline], ch. 1, sent. 5-7 [tr. Rolfe (1931)]
(Source)
Original Latin. Alt. trans.:
"But a just estimate of our mental and bodily faculties was not easily made. Which of them was most conducive to the success of military operations, was in former times a question much agitated, and long undecided. It is evident, however, that before the undertaking of a warlike enterprise, judgment is required to concert and plan the necessary measures; vigor in execution is equally necessary. The powers of man, in their separate functions feeble and ineffectual, demand each other's aid, and flourish by mutual assistance." [tr. Murphy (1807)]
"It has, however, been a great and long debate, whether success in war is most owing to bodily strength or mental abilities: for, as counsel is necessary before we enter on action, after measures are duly concerted, speedy execution is equally necessary; so that neither of these being sufficient singly, they prevail only by the assistance of each other." [tr. Rose (1831)]
"But there has been for a long time a great debate amongst mortals, whether the science of war advanced more by the strength of body or by the abilities of the mind. For both before you begin there is need of counsel; and when you have counselled, there is need of vigorous execution. So whilst both by themselves are defective, the one is strengthened by the assistance of the other." [Source (1841)]
"Yet it was long a subject of dispute among mankind, whether military efforts were more advanced by strength of body, or by force of intellect. For, in affairs of war, it is necessary to plan before beginning to act, and, after planning, to act with promptitude and vigor. Thus, each being insufficient of itself, the one requires the assistance of the other." [tr. Watson (1867)]
"Not it was long hotly contested among men whether military success was more advanced by mental ability or by bodily strength, for what we need is deliberation before we begin, and after deliberation, then well-timed action; either of itself is deficient and lacks the other's help." [tr. Pollard (1882)]
"Yet for a long time there was considerable dispute amongst mortals as to whether it was through the power of the body or the prowess of the mind that military affairs made greater progress. For, before you begin, deliberation is necessary, and, when you have deliberated, speedy action: hence each element, deficient on its own, requires the help of the other." [tr. Woodman (2007)]
When you want to test the depths of a stream, don’t use both feet.
(Other Authors and Sources)
Chinese proverb
Be not afraid of growing slowly, be afraid only of standing still.
(Other Authors and Sources)
Chinese proverb