There is a time to be brave and bold, often such admirable qualities.
But there is also a time to be wise and prudent. Scotland, to the relief of many, has taken the second direction.
Inevitably, there is some sadness over the vote. There is a romance about Scotland the brave, Scotland the underdog, Scotland battling the Sassenachs south of the border.
Scotland also has such a proud history over the past few hundred years with thinkers, industrialists, inventors and writers leading the way. Its diaspora has played leading roles in the England-speaking world. Three-quarters of the presidents of the United States have Scottish bloodlines.
These days, however, Scotland is a relatively small land (about 30% the size of New Zealand) to the northwest of Europe. Its population is 5.3 million and economically, even with a sizeable share of remaining northern oil reserves, only the optimistic could see it thriving after going it alone.
Untangling from Britain after 300 years of union and myriad personal, economic and institutional ties was always going to be a nightmare, and major questions over the use of the pound and entry into the European Union were unsettled.
Costs in a smaller economy are likely to be higher - just look at New Zealand - and the economy, including the banks, would have been more vulnerable.
Nearby examples of small nations, Ireland and Iceland, hardly engender confidence, although Norway and its careful husbanding of hydrocarbon revenues is a more positive case.
Even with the pound, Scotland would be on London's leash for interest rates and monetary policy. These would be set even more for England's benefit, not Scotland's.
The global economy these days is unforgiving. While much of the impetus for independence has been tied to a desire for a more compassionate and more left-wing economic and welfare system, Scotland would have had totally to pay its own way.
Once the euphoria of ''independence'' from England, and these days from a Conservative Government, had worn off, Scotland would have faced tough times. Independence would not have magically solved the serious unemployment and underprivilege issues.
Just look at the problems that have spread across southern Europe and beyond.
In the final scurry to ensure victory for the ''No'', leaders from Westminster have promised increased devolution.
This must now be worked through. But a can of worms has also been prised open for other parts of Britain.
Regional newspapers in the north of England which, like Scotland, sees money and jobs siphoned to the prosperous South, have united to launch a campaign for greater powers to tackle the ''uneven playing field'', and Prime Minister David Cameron is moving to consider constitutional changes for the rest of Britain.
Leaders of the West, including the United States, will be relieved Britain's nuclear submarines remain in place on northern Europe's flank.
They will also be pleased that, although Scotland is a relatively small part, Britain overall is not weakened.
Most other parts of Europe, which are loath to give potential breakaway regions any choice in the matter, strongly back the status quo and stability.
Spain, for example, simply could not afford to be without Catalonia (including Barcelona).
It is rare internationally for a region to be given the democratic choice of leaving a union. It certainly is not going to happen in Tibet or Chechnya.
It has been refreshing, therefore, to see the Scots being given a choice and see democracy in action.
While there were reports of bullying and nastiness in some quarters from ''Yes'' supporters, the whole process has been about engagement and debate - even if exaggeration and misinformation was the norm.
The estimated final voter turnout was an impressive 80%.
The other advantage of a ''No'' vote was that the option for independence remains a possibility some time in the future.
Once the Humpty Dumpty United Kingdom had had a great fall, it would have been well-nigh impossible to put all the pieces back together again.
While it would not seem ''positive'', sometimes the ''naysayers'' can be right.
When the moment of decision arrived, the canny, pragmatic Scots, by a decent margin, have taken the sensible course.
