Chapter II. On the Acts or Functions of Prudence

630. The acts or functions of prudence are enumerated by St. Thomas¹⁶ as three: 1. to take counsel well, 2. to judge rightly, 3. to command or prescribe.

Explanation. Prudence first takes counsel and deliberates, or seeks the means and circumstances which are necessary that the work may be done honorably and virtuously. After this consultation and deliberation there follows judgment or conclusion, what, how, and with which circumstances something is to be done, e.g. that here and now one must abstain from a work, or that one must labor more strongly. Finally prudence commands the execution of the practical judgment through the other powers. The act of commanding is the principal and proper act of prudence.¹⁷ These three acts, that they may be done well, must be exercised with solicitude and diligence, according as the condition of the person and of the business requires, because it belongs to prudence to employ all necessary means that the operation be done honorably and perfectly, which cannot be had without great diligence. Hence no one is called prudent unless in taking counsel, in judging, and in executing he has employed the diligence due according to the gravity of the business and of the person. But if he has employed that due diligence, although he erred speculatively, nevertheless he is called prudent and does not sin. That these three acts or functions of prudence may be exercised perfectly, there ought to be several other assisting habits, which are called by St. Thomas the integral and potential parts of prudence, concerning which there will be speech in the following chapter.

¹⁶ S. theol. 2, 2, q. 47, a. 8.

¹⁷ Ib.