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prudent [prudent 词源字典]: prudent: [14] Prudent and provident are as it were two separate goes at the same word. Both were formed from the Latin prefix prō- ‘before, in advance’ and vidēns, the present participle of vidēre ‘see’ (and hence etymologically mean ‘foreseeing’). The pre-classical coinage was contracted to prūdēns ‘farsighted, wise’, which reached English via Old French prudent. Provident comes from the uncontracted prōvidēns, part of the paradigm of prōvidēre (source of English provide).
=> provide[prudent etymology, prudent origin, 英语词源]
far-sighted (adj.): also farsighted, 1640s, "forecasting, prescient;" 1878 in reference to a defect of the eyes (hypermetropic); see far (adv.) + sight (v.). Related: Farsightedness.
self-interest (n.): also self interest, 1640s, from self- + interest (n.). Related: Self-interested.
[Self-interest] is a doctrine not very lofty, but clear and sure. It does not seek to attain great objects; but it attains those it aims for without too much effort. ... [It] does not produce great devotion; but it suggests little sacrifices each day; by itself it cannot make a man virtuous; but it forms a multitude of citizens who are regulated, temperate, moderate, farsighted, masters of themselves; and if it does not lead directly to virtue through the will, it brings them near to it insensibly through habits. [Alexis de Tocqueville, "Democracy in America"]