“All courses of action are risky, so prudence is not in avoiding danger (it’s impossible), but calculating risk and acting decisively. Make mistakes of ambition and not mistakes of sloth. Develop the strength to do bold things, not the strength to suffer.”
Niccolò Machiavelli
Merriam-Webster defines prudence as, “The ability to govern and discipline oneself by the use of reason.” Cuba, New York native Jason-Michael Gabler adds, “prudence is the ability to think about opportunity costs, ramifications of your actions, your options and be calculated.” Gabler, a Machiavelli super-fan, double majors in physics and political science at Michigan State University. He Is the face of prudence.
At times, the word prudence is used synonymously with cautiousness, but Gabler believes otherwise. “Cautiousness is having an innate reservation towards anything without careful thought,” he explained. To him, cautiousness breeds inaction, directly contradicting prudence which involves utilizing foresight to make timely, well-informed decisions. “It’s being able to weigh your odds, think about the ramifications of what you’re doing, while you do them.”
He constantly weighs the opportunity costs of his actions, analyzing them to generate a favorable outcome. This ability became especially useful as he took on two majors, hoping to better prepare himself for post graduate options. “I chose physics because I like physics, but also because it left every door open,” Gabler stated. Before coming to college, he determined physics would prepare him to think critically and perform well on standardized examinations like the GMAT, GRE, MCAT and LSAT.
Later, Gabler sought to broaden his academic horizon outside of the STEM field with an additional major. “Doing something so close to the same thing [physics] is a waste of time,” he said. He feels striving to obtain a degree in political science not only diversifies his portfolio but thought processes as well. “I know analytical and numerical conventions, but political science helps me articulate my words a lot better.”
Although his prudence has proven useful majority of the time, Gabler also confessed at times it gives way to overthinking. He explained how prudent individuals sometimes find themselves dwelling on the negative outcomes a situation may produce. “[While overthinking] It’s better for me to fall into it,” he expressed, “The more you’re aware of it [overthinking], the more you can do about it.”
According to Gabler, overthinking can lead to cautiousness, therefore he chooses to practice active prudence which involves being well prepared for any situation. “It’s not aversion to difficulty or aversion to risk,” he concluded, “It’s understanding the amount of risk involved.”
He is the face of PRUDENCE.
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