Prudence
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![Allegory of Prudence on the tomb of Francis II, Duke of Brittany The female face depicts Francis' daughter Anne of Brittany.](/Images/godic/202502/05/DSCN20471215.JPG")
![Allegory of Prudence by Titian. To Titian, prudence was preparation, foresight and judgement from experience and human history. The three faces in the painting represent the passing of human generations, with the young facing the light while the oldest fade into shadow; the faint inscription above their heads may be translated as](/Images/godic/202502/05/Titian_-_Allegorie_der_Zeit1216.jpg")
![Main gate of 18th-century Castellania portraying Lady Justice and Lady Prudentia above](/Images/godic/202502/05/Main_ornate_of_the_facade,_Castellania_Malta1216.jpeg")
Prudence (Latin:prudentia, contracted from providentia meaning "seeing ahead, sagacity") is the ability to govern and discipline oneself by the use of reason. It is classically considered to be a virtue, and in particular one of the four Cardinal virtues (which are, with the three theological virtues, part of the seven virtues). Prudentia is an allegorical female personification of the virtue, whose attributes are a mirror and snake, who is frequently depicted as a pair with Justitia, the Roman goddess of Justice.