He ought to be slow to believe and to act, nor should he himself show fear, but proceed in a temperate manner with prudence and humanity, so that too much confidence may not make him incautious and too much distrust render him intolerable.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- A leader should act with careful deliberation and balanced emotions, avoiding both rash confidence and paralyzing distrust.
- In plain terms
- Think before acting, stay calm, and balance trust with caution.
- What can you take from it?
- Balance trust and caution in your actions.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Am I acting too fast?
- Do I trust too little or too much?
Another view
Excessive caution can sometimes prevent necessary bold moves.
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