Who said “The prudent sees only the difficulties, the bold only the advantages, of a great…”?

Verified

Johann Kaspar Lavater. A published source records them saying or writing it.

SourceAphorisms on Man (1788)

Evidence: Wikiquote · How we check

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Cite this quote

For academic work, cite the original where you can: Aphorisms on Man (1788).

APA

Lavater, J. K. (n.d.). The prudent sees only the difficulties, the bold only the advantages, of a great enterprise; the hero sees both, diminishes those, makes these preponderate, and conquers. [Quotation]. Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/2246-the-prudent-sees-only-the-difficulties-the-bold/

MLA

Lavater, Johann Kaspar. “The prudent sees only the difficulties, the bold only the advantages, of a great enterprise; the hero sees both, diminishes those, makes these preponderate, and conquers.” Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/2246-the-prudent-sees-only-the-difficulties-the-bold/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Chicago

Lavater, Johann Kaspar. “The prudent sees only the difficulties, the bold only the advantages, of a great enterprise; the hero sees both, diminishes those, makes these preponderate, and conquers.” Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/2246-the-prudent-sees-only-the-difficulties-the-bold/.