Hamlet ’ s procrastination is a puzzle , and each generation of readers produces its own set of explanations . In Hamlet , I see a young man in a dim place , a place where few things can be seen for certain . He believes that the king is guilty , but facts are hard to establish . He does not want responsibility , but he is the prince of a realm in peril . He discovers that his friends are collaborating with the king to spy on him , but he misreads their motives . He must act , but rash action may do as much harm as good — as a play ending with bodies strewn across the stage more than illustrates . Facing obscure problems where action is needed , but how to act wisely is unclear — who would not hesitate ?

Most of us have hesitated in situations where the thing that should be done is dishearteningly unclear . Advice like “ do it now ,” fails us there . Instead , we need to be guided by something like prudence . Prudence is a virtue aimed at making each of our actions the best that it can be . To be prudent is to align our actions with our values , to consider the situation we are addressing with great attention , and to carefully weigh the possible things we might do , choosing the means that best addresses the situation and best reflects our values .

Prudent action starts with this kind of reflection , but it finishes with a final step — the action itself . Because we cannot control its outcome , action is a step that requires courage . Nevertheless , unless we act , our reflection profits no one . After all , as we have been taught , there are situations in which evil will triumph if good people do nothing .

Lloyd Den Boer is a former educator living with his wife in Edmonton where together they marvel at the unfinished tasks that pile up , even in retirement .

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