The promise given was a necessity of the past: the word broken is a necessity of the present.
—Niccolo Machiavelli (1469–1527) Florentine Political Philosopher
It is the purpose that makes strong the vow; But vows to every purpose must not hold.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
Not the maker of plans and promises, but rather the one who offers faithful service in small matters. This is the person who is most likely to achieve what is good and lasting.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German Poet
Oft expectation fails, and most oft there
Where most it promises; and oft it hits
Where hope is coldest, and despair most fits.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
A vow is fixed and unalterable determination to do a thing, when such a determination is related to something noble which can only uplift the man who makes the resolve.
—Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869–1948) Indian Hindu Political leader
‘Tis not the many oaths that make the truth; But the plain single vow, that is vow’d true.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
Breach of promise is a base surrender of truth.
—Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869–1948) Indian Hindu Political leader
Oaths are the fossils of piety.
—George Santayana (1863–1952) Spanish-American Poet, Philosopher
Promises are like the full moon, if they are not kept at once they diminish day by day.
—German Proverb
Promises are like babies: easy to make, hard to deliver.
—Unknown
Nothing is as easy to make as a promise this winter to do something next summer; this is how commencement speakers are caught.
—Sydney J. Harris (1917–86) American Essayist, Drama Critic
The rule is, jam tomorrow and jam yesterday—but never jam today.
—Charles Lutwidge Dodgson (Lewis Carroll) (1832–98) British Author, Mathematician, Clergyman, Logician
Oaths are but words, and words but wind.
—Samuel Butler
Civilization rests on a set of promises; if the promises are broken too often, the civilization dies, no matter how rich it may be, or how mechanically clever. Hope and faith depend on the promises; if hope and faith go, everything goes.
—Herbert Agar (1897–1980) American Journalist, Historian, Poet, Critic
The woods are lovely, dark and deep, but I have promises to keep and miles to go before I sleep, and miles to go before I sleep.
—Robert Frost (1874–1963) American Poet
Illness is the most heeded of doctors: to goodness and wisdom we only make promises; pain we obey.
—Marcel Proust (1871–1922) French Novelist
Nothing weights lighter than a promise.
—German Proverb
Your capacity to keep your vow will depend on the purity of your life.
—Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869–1948) Indian Hindu Political leader
It is an immutable law in business that words are words, explanations are explanations, promises are promises but only performance is reality.
—Harold S. Geneen (1910–1997) British-American Businessman
A promise is a comfort for a fool.
—Common Proverb
A liar is always lavish of oaths.
—Pierre Corneille (1606–84) French Poet, Dramatist
Between today and tomorrow are graves, and between promising and fulfilling are chasms.
—Friedrich Ruckert (1788–1866) German Poet, Translator
Promises make debt, and debt makes promises.
—Dutch Proverb
Men’s vows are women’s traitors!
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
Promises are like crying babies in a theater, they should be carried out at once.
—Norman Vincent Peale (1898–1993) American Clergyman, Self-Help Author
Where there is an unknowable, there is a promise.
—Thornton Wilder (1897–1975) American Novelist, Playwright
Promise is most given when the least is said.
—George Chapman (c.1560–1634) English Poet, Playwright
Let God’s promises shine on your problems.
—Corrie Ten Boom (1892–1983) Dutch Evangelist, Author
Vows are made in storms and forgotten in calm weather.
—Thomas Fuller (1608–61) English Cleric, Historian
He is poor indeed that can promise nothing.
—Thomas Fuller (1608–61) English Cleric, Historian
Leave a Reply