What is piety you ask? To take time for consideration. … For what is as integral to the worship of God as that which he himself urges in the Psalm: ‘Be still and know that I am God’? This certainly is the essence of consideration. What is as valuable as consideration which benevolently presumes to take part in an action by anticipating and planning what must be done? This is absolutely necessary. Affairs which have been thought out and planned in advance can be accomplished efficiently, but they can lead to great danger if done haphazardly. I have no doubt that you can recall frequent experiences of this kind in legal affairs, in important business matters, or in any deliberations of significance.
Now, of primary importance is the fact that consideration purifies its source, that is, the mind. Notice also that it controls the emotions, guides actions, corrects excesses, improves behavior, confers dignity and order on life, and even imparts knowledge of divine and human affairs. It puts an end to confusion, closes gaps, gathers up what has been scattered, roots out secrets, hunts down truth, scrutinizes what seems to be true, and explores lies and deceit. It decides what is to be done and reviews what has been done in order to eliminate from the mind anything deficient or in need of correction. Consideration anticipates adversity when all is going well, and when adversity comes, it stands firm. In this it displays both prudence and fortitude.
Bernard of Clairvaux, Five Books on Consideration: Advice to a Pope, Book One, Chapter VII, verse 8 (CF 37, p. 37f.)