The best way to keep one's word is not to give it.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Making no promises ensures you never break them, preserving your reputation.
- In plain terms
- Do not promise things you might not be able to do.
- What can you take from it?
- Avoid making promises you cannot keep.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Is it better to promise less or more?
- How do you keep trust without promises?
Another view
Some situations require commitments to build trust.
More from Napoleon Bonaparte
The best cure for the body is a quiet mind.
Permalink to quote #158 The English... are a nation of shopkeepers
Permalink to quote #160 The battlefield is a scene of constant chaos. The winner will be the one who controls that chaos, both his own and the enemies.
Permalink to quote #157
Related quotes
Never promise more than you can perform.
Publilius SyrusPublilius Syrus quote #30 To obtain credibility, an unending series of daily correct actions are necessary. To lose it, one mistake is enough.
Rolim AmaroRolim Amaro quote #2 Confidence... thrives on honesty, on honor, on the sacredness of obligations, on faithful protection and on unselfish performance. Without them it cannot live.
Franklin Delano RooseveltFranklin Delano Roosevelt quote #4