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Prudence vs Competence - What's the difference?

prudence | competence |

As nouns the difference between prudence and competence

is that prudence is the quality or state of being prudent; wisdom in the way of caution and provision; discretion; carefulness; hence, also, economy; frugality while competence is the quality or state of being competent, i.e. able or suitable for a general role.

As a proper noun Prudence

is {{given name|female|from=English}}, one of the Puritan virtue names.

prudence

Noun

(-)
  • The quality or state of being prudent; wisdom in the way of caution and provision; discretion; carefulness; hence, also, economy; frugality.
  • * 1876 , , Prose Quotations from Socrates to Macaulay , J.B. Lippincott, page 597,
  • Prudence is principally in reference to actions to be done, and due means, order, seasons, and method of doing or not doing. - .
    Prudence supposes the value of the end to be assumed, and refers only to the adaptation of the means. It is the relation of right means for given ends. - .

    Synonyms

    * wisdom, forecast, providence, considerateness, judiciousness, discretion, caution, circumspection, judgment * See also

    Antonyms

    * imprudence, recklessness, rashness

    competence

    English

    Noun

  • (uncountable) The quality or state of being competent, i.e. able or suitable for a general role.
  • * 2005 , Lies Sercu and Ewa Bandura, Foreign Language Teachers and Intercultural Competence: An International Investigation :
  • Teachers are now required to teach intercultural communicative competence .
  • (countable) The quality or state of being able or suitable for a particular task; the quality or state of being competent for a particular task.
  • * 1961 , National Council for Elementary Science (U.S.), Science Education :
  • What professional competences do science teachers need?
  • A sustainable income.
  • * Alexander Pope
  • Reason's whole pleasure, all the joys of sense, / Lie in three words — health, peace, and competence .
  • * 1811 , Jane Austen, Sense and Sensibility , chapter 17
  • “money can only give happiness where there is nothing else to give it. Beyond a competence , it can afford no real satisfaction, as far as mere self is concerned.”
  • (countable) In law, the legal authority to deal with a matter.
  • That question is out with the competence of this court and must be taken to a higher court.

    Synonyms

    * ability * competency * nous * savoir-faire * knack (colloq.) * aptitude * See also

    Antonyms

    * inability * ineptitude * incompetence

    References

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