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.

The best way to keep one's word is not to give it.

Promise is most given when the least is said.

Thou ought to be nice, even to superstition, in keeping thy promises, and therefore equally cautious in making them.

The man who promises everything is sure to fulfil nothing, and everyone who promises too much is in danger of using evil means in order to carry out his promises, and is already on the road to perdition.

A prince never lacks legitimate reasons to break his promise.

The promises of this world are, for the most part, vain phantoms; and to confide in one's self, and become something of worth and value is the best and safest course.

God never made a promise that was too good to be true.

Everyone's a millionaire where promises are concerned.

He loses his thanks who promises and delays.

Those that are most slow in making a promise are the most faithful in the performance of it.

Between today and tomorrow are graves, and between promising and fulfilling are chasms.