To God's council-chamber we have no key. [ Danish Proverb ]

If the council be good, no matter who gave it. [ Proverb ]

That is not a council wherein there are no sages. [ Hitopadesa ]

Bold at the council board, but cautious in the field. [ Dryden ]

As wit is too hard for power in council, so power is too hard for wit in action. [ Wycherley ]

Memory is the cabinet of imagination, the treasury of reason, the registry of conscience, and the council-chamber of thought. [ Basile ]

Facts are to the mind the same thing as food to the body. On the due digestion of facts depends the strength and wisdom of the one, just as vigour and health depend on the other. The wisest in council, the ablest in debate, and the most agreeable in the commerce of life, is that man who has assimilated to his understanding the greatest number of facts. [ Burke ]

It deserves to be considered that boldness is ever blind, for it sees not dangers and inconveniences. Whence it is bad in council though good in execution. The right use of bold persons, therefore, is that they never command in chief, but serve as seconds, under the direction of others. For in council it is good to see dangers, and in execution not to see them unless they are very great. [ Bacon ]