Discretion is of late an unheralded virtue. To give the virtue its due, I herald it here.
The definition of “discreet” is “[m]arked by, exercising, or showing prudence and wise self-restraint in speech and behavior; circumspect.” (The American Heritage Dictionary, 4th Ed.).
Here are some aphorisms on discretion from the Bible, some from me and one from a portly Brit:
“As a ring of gold in a swine’s snout, so is a beautiful woman who lacks discretion.” (Proverbs 11:22).
“A man’s discretion makes him slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook a transgression.” (Proverbs 19:11).
“When wisdom enters your heart, and knowledge is pleasant to your soul, discretion will preserve you…” (Proverbs 2:10-11).
“Imprudence speaks then thinks; discretion thinks and remains silent.”
“Discretion is a friend to the wise, but a stranger to the foolish.”
“He who exerecises discretion exercises wisdom.”
“Tact is the unsaid part of what you think.” Winston Churchill