Literary notes about Discretion (AI summary)
In literature, discretion is portrayed as a multifaceted quality that encompasses prudence, careful judgment, and the capacity to act with measured restraint. In some works, it appears as an accompanying virtue to other moral qualities, guiding characters on their journeys and in their choices [1]. Authors also use the term to denote a personal attribute that balances honest expression with tactful silence, as seen when characters are trusted with delicate matters [2, 3]. In political or philosophical contexts, discretion extends to the realm of authority and decision‐making, highlighting its role in governance and the administration of justice [4, 5]. Whether as a marker of inner virtue or a tool for effective leadership, discretion emerges across eras and genres as a critical element of both character and judgment.
- {140} Then he began to go forward; but Discretion, Piety, Charity, and Prudence would accompany him down to the foot of the hill.
— from The Pilgrim's Progress from this world to that which is to come by John Bunyan - But you and your friend are men of discretion, Mr. Holmes?”
— from The Return of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle - I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honor and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most extreme importance.
— from Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle - A few established laws served the turn, and the discretion and care of the ruler supplied the rest.
— from Second Treatise of Government by John Locke - To judge whether he is fit to be employed, may surely be trusted to the discretion of the employers, whose interest it so much concerns.
— from An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations by Adam Smith
