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Vigilance vs Prudence - What's the difference?

vigilance | prudence | Related terms |

As nouns the difference between vigilance and prudence

is that vigilance is alert watchfulness while prudence is the quality or state of being prudent; wisdom in the way of caution and provision; discretion; carefulness; hence, also, economy; frugality.

As a proper noun Prudence is

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

vigilance

English

Noun

(en-noun)
  • Alert watchfulness.
  • *
  • , title=(The Celebrity), chapter=8 , passage=I corralled the judge, and we started off across the fields, in no very mild state of fear of that gentleman's wife, whose vigilance was seldom relaxed. And thus we came by a circuitous route to Mohair, the judge occupied by his own guilty thoughts, and I by others not less disturbing.}}
  • Close and continuous attention.
  • * 1837 March 4, (Andrew Jackson), Farewell Address
  • But you must remember, my fellow-citizens, that eternal vigilance by the people is the price of liberty, and that you must pay the price if you wish to secure the blessing.

    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