The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs (129 page)

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, and bravery consists in foresight;
c
1477
CAXTON
Jason
(EETS) 23 Than as wyse and discrete he with-drewe him sayng that more is worth a good retrayte than a folisshe abydinge.

1597
–
8
Henry IV
, Pt. 1 v. iv. 121
The better part of valour is discretion; in the which better part, I have saved my life.
1885
Prince Bismarck
I. v.
Napoleon .. had vowed that he would free Italy ‘from the Alps to the Adriatic’, but .. he acted on the maxim that discretion is the better part of valour.
1981
Loitering with Intent
x.
I was tempted to ring up Dottie and confront her with the theft. Discretion is the better part of valour; with difficulty I restrained myself.
1994
Mr. Donaghue Investigates
(1997) i. 15
‘As the great man himself said, “Discretion is the better part of valour.” He was, as in everything he said, perfectly correct.’