Unclaimed promises are like uncashed cheques; they will keep us from bankruptcy, but not from want.
—Frances Ridley Havergal (1836–79) English Anglican Poet, Hymn writer
Thou ought to be nice, even to superstition, in keeping thy promises, and therefore equally cautious in making them.
—Thomas Fuller (1608–61) English Cleric, Historian
He who promises runs in debt.
—The Talmud Sacred Text of the Jewish Faith
An acre of performance is worth the whole world of promise.
—Jeremiah Brown Howell
It is easy to promise, and alas! how easy to forget!
—Alfred de Musset (1810–57) French Dramatist, Poet, Novelist
Every brave man is a man of his word.
—Pierre Corneille (1606–84) French Poet, Dramatist
A mind conscious of integrity scorns to say more than it means to perform.
—Robert Burns (1759–96) Scottish Poet, Songwriter
Those that are most slow in making a promise are the most faithful in the performance of it.
—Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712–78) Swiss-born French Philosopher
We promise according to our hopes, but perform according to our selfishness and our fears.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613–80) French Writer