Be discreet in all things, and so render it unnecessary to be mysterious.

— Arthur Wellesley, Duke of Wellington

Discretion of speech is more than eloquence, and to speak agreeably to him with whom we deal is more than to speak in good words, or in good order.

— Bacon, Francis

Be wiser than other people, if you can; but do not tell them so.

— Chesterfield, Lord

For he that fights and runs away, may live to fight another day, but he, who is in battle slain, can never rise and fight again.

— Goldsmith, Oliver

Notable talents are not necessarily connected with discretion.

— Junius

Nothing is more dangerous than a friend without discretion; even a prudent enemy is preferable.

— La Fontaine, Jean De

Depart from discretion when it interferes with duty.

— More, Hannah

Better a living dog than a dead lion.

— Proverb

Never wrestle with a strong man nor bring a rich man to court.

— Proverb, Latvian

Be advised what thou dost discourse of, and what thou maintainest whether touching religion, state, or vanity; for if thou err in the first, thou shalt be accounted profane; if in the second, dangerous; if in the third, indiscreet and foolish.

— Raleigh, Sir Walter

I cannot and do not live in the world of discretion, not as a writer, anyway. I would prefer to, I assure you -- it would make life easier. But discretion is, unfortunately, not for novelists.

— Roth, Philip

Never say oops in the operating room.

— Troy, Dr. Leo