Mr. Meyer

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You may email me at dmeyer@bfcsaz.com

Don Meyer

Virtue of the Month

September

Prudentia: wisdom, foresight, prudence

Aesop’s fable of “The Ant and the Grasshopper” is a good illustration of the Roman concept of prudentia. If you’re not familiar with the tale, it’s about two friends with contrasting ways of life. One, the Ant, spends his summer days working hard and storing up food and repairing his home to be ready for the winter. The Grasshopper, on the other hand, lays out in the sun and enjoys his time relaxing, even making fun of the Ant for his hard work, when the Grasshopper has everything he needs for now without lifting a finger.  But when winter comes, the Ant is sitting warm and cozy in his house, enjoying the food he stored, while the Grasshopper is starving and freezing since he spent all summer being lazy and ignoring the coming change of seasons.

Prudentia refers to the attitude of wise preparation and cautious foresight that the Ant exhibits in the fable.  Recognizing the consequences or results of your actions and decisions, weighing their impact, and making the right choice after careful consideration were signs of prudentia to the Romans.   The Roman philosopher Seneca listed taking care and being discerning in your friendships and companionships, being intentional about what books or media you consume, and making wise decisions about your diet as important aspects of prudent living.  Prudentia means planning for the future and not getting caught up too much in immediate concerns or pleasures; taking the long view that one of the greatest human rewards is the pleasant reflection, in old age, on a life that has been lived wisely and without regret.