My dad often chastised me with potent words and phrases so weighty that I had to research their meaning. An example is a quote from William Shakespeare’s Henry IV, where the character Falstaff declares, “The better part of valour is discretion.” He would hammer those words into my consciousness whenever I displayed a passionate but narrow focus on accomplishing something, often at the expense of other important matters.

Dad thought of my teenage passions as unguided fervour, lacking the balancing virtue of wisdom. I disagreed most of the time, but now I have come to deeply appreciate what he meant. Looking back, I recognize the many near-tragedies that would have befallen me had it not been for the power of circumspection. Yes, valour (courage and bravery) has opened many doors for me, leading to numerous victories. But the better side of the story is that discretion taught me which battles to fight and how to win them.

While courage is indispensable for achieving great things, especially for daring the impossible, it must be properly placed within the broader scheme of wisdom and priorities. I have seen many people, in the name of bravery, do more damage than intended for lack of circumspection. Failed ventures, broken relationships, stalled innovations, and misguided change efforts are often the result of impulsiveness mistaken for boldness. To win, and truly win, one needs wisdom manifest in discretion. This demands patience, reflection, and thoughtful engagement.

Many of us grow up being taught that courage is the supreme virtue and that to back down, hesitate, or reconsider is a sign of weakness. Yet history and experience tell a different story. The greatest leaders, warriors, and pioneers were not just fearless; they were also discerning. They knew that not every battle was worth fighting, not every opportunity was worth chasing, and not every impulse was worth acting on. The ability to choose when to act and when to hold back often determined their success more than sheer bravery ever could.

Discretion is not timidity; it is the wisdom to see the bigger picture. It is the skill of weighing consequences, of stepping back to assess if a pursuit aligns with a greater purpose. Some of the gravest mistakes in history were made not by those who lacked courage but by those who rushed in with unchecked zeal. This was Mr Bassey’s central theme. Whether in leadership, business, or personal life, the ability to temper courage with careful judgment is what separates the truly great from the merely bold.

In truth, real strength lies in restraint as much as in action. The bravest people are not those who charge ahead blindly but those who can pause, evaluate, and make the right call, even when it means walking away. It is wise to remember that true valour is not just about fighting. It is about fighting wisely. These Bible verses fit perfectly with this thought: Proverbs 24:5-6 and Proverbs 20:18.

Pic: My closest act of bravery this year 😁