Never esteem anything as of advantage to you that will make you break your word or lose your self-respect.
Attribution disputed; shown as originally published.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Do not value anything that forces you to break promises or lose self-respect.
- In plain terms
- Never choose advantage over keeping your word or self-respect.
- What can you take from it?
- Prioritize integrity over short-term gains.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- What is more important, gain or integrity?
- How do you define self-respect?
Another view
Sometimes breaking a word is necessary to prevent greater harm.
More from Henry Adams
There is no such thing as an underestimate of average intelligence.
Permalink to quote #46 The work of internal government has become the task of controlling the thousands of fifth-rate men.
Permalink to quote #45 The woman who is known only through a man is known wrong.
Permalink to quote #44
Related quotes
It's not the honors and the prizes and the fancy outsides of life which ultimately nourish our souls. It's the knowing that we can be trusted, that we never ha…
Fred RogersFred Rogers quote #9 Yet this inconstancy is such As you too shall adore; I could not love thee, dear, so much, Loved I not honor more.
Richard LovelaceRichard Lovelace quote #6 Honesta fama melior pecunia est.
Publilius SyrusPublilius Syrus quote #6