Oath Quotes

• Unfortunately, in today's world we have to be reminded that the power of an oath derives from the fact that in it we ask God to bear witness to the promises we make with the implicit expectation that He will hold us accountable for the manner in which we honor them.

  James L. Buckley

  Expectations, Honor, Promise

  James L. Buckley (2010). “Freedom at Risk: Reflections on Politics, Liberty, and the State”, p.245, ReadHowYouWant.com

  29 Copy quote

  Show source

• An oath is a promise-and a promise can be made regardless of feeling.

  Veronica Rossi

  Feelings, Promise, Made

  7 Copy quote

• When a man takes an oath... he's holding his own self in his own hands. Like water.

  Robert Bolt

  Men, Self, Hands

  Robert Bolt (2013). “A Man For All Seasons”, p.87, A&C Black

  28 Copy quote

  Show source

• It is not the oath that makes us believe the man, but the man the oath.

  Aeschylus

  Believe, Men, Keeping Promises

  "Fragment 385". Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 10th edition, 1919.

  31 Copy quote

  Show source

• When an oath is taken ... the mind is more attentive; for it guards against two things, the reproach of friends and offence against the gods.

  Sophocles

  Taken, Two, Mind

  Sophocles, Hugh Lloyd-Jones (1996). “Sophocles: Fragments”, p.245, Harvard University Press

  11 Copy quote

  Show source

• A liar is always lavish of oaths.

  Pierre Corneille

  Liars, Lying, Deceit

  "Hoyt's New Cyclopedia Of Practical Quotations" by Jehiel Keeler Hoyt, Le Menteur, III. 5, p. 485-87, 1922.

  62 Copy quote

  Show source

• For so sworn good or evil an oath may not be broken and it shall pursue oathkeeper and oathbreaker to the world's end.

  J. R. R. Tolkien

  Evil, Broken, World

  J.R.R. Tolkien (2012). “The Silmarillion”, p.60, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

  28 Copy quote

  Show source

• What I know is it is a disservice to those who continue to serve to think that there's going to be a civil-military breakdown because those who serve, they know who they serve. They know what their loyalties are, that's why you take an oath to the Constitution and your loyalty lies in the chain of command and your buddies. That's always been there. We are a professional military.

  Michael T. Flynn

  Loyalty, Lying, Military

  Source: www.washingtonpost.com

  4 Copy quote

  Show source

• A new oath holds pretty well; but... when it is become old, and frayed out, and damaged by a dozen annual retryings of its remains, it ceases to be serviceable; any little strain will snap it.

  Mark Twain

  New Year, Holiday, Dozen

  7 Copy quote

• Real faith never disappoints because it is in God, grounded on His character, promises, covenant and oath.

  Aiden Wilson Tozer

  Real, Character, Promise

  16 Copy quote

• His words are bonds, his oaths are oracles; his love sincere, his thoughts immaculate; his tears pure messengers sent from his heart; his heart as far from fraud, as heaven from earth

  William Shakespeare

  Heart, Heaven, Humanity

  William Shakespeare (1996). “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare”, p.199, Wordsworth Editions

  14 Copy quote

  Show source

• Took an oath, I'ma stick it out to the end.

  Rihanna

  Sticks, Ends

  Song: Umbrella

  22 Copy quote

  Show source

• Put more trust in nobility of character than in an oath.

  Solon

  Inspirational, Trust, Character

  43 Copy quote

• In the name of the constitution of Texas, which has been trampled upon, I refuse to take this oath. I love Texas too well to bring civil strife and bloodshed upon her.

  Sam Houston

  Texas, Names, Civil War

  Sam Houston (1943). “The Writings of Sam Houston, 1813-1863: 1825-1863”

  42 Copy quote

  Show source

• Oaths are the fossils of piety.

  George Santayana

  Promise, Fossils, Swearing

  George Santayana (1950). “Atoms of Thought: An Anthology of Thoughts”

  13 Copy quote

  Show source

• We walk in dark places no others will enter. We stand on the bridge and no one may pass. We live for the One. We die for the One. -- the Ranger oath

  J. Michael Straczynski

  Dark, Bridges, May

  8 Copy quote

• Oaths are but words, and words are but wind.

  Samuel Butler

  Wind

  15 Copy quote

• Whoever considers the number of absurd and ridiculous oaths necessary to be taken at present in most countries, on being admitted into any society or profession whatever, will be less surprised to find prevarication still prevailing, where perjury has led the way.

  Guillaume Thomas Francois Raynal

  Country, Taken, Numbers

  Guillaume Thomas François RAYNAL, John Obadiah JUSTAMOND (1783). “A Philosophical and Political History of the Settlements and Trade of the Europeans in the East and West Indies. Translated ... by J. Justamond, M. A. The third edition: revised and corrected. With maps adapted to the work and a copious index”, p.349

  7 Copy quote

  Show source

• It is great sin to swear unto a sin, But greater sin to keep a sinful oath.

  William Shakespeare

  Sin, Swear, Greater

  1592 Salisbury to Henry. Henry VI PartTwo, act 5, sc.1, l.180-1.

  11 Copy quote

  Show source

• Neither can oath nor promise bind any such people to obey and maintain tyrants against God and against his truth known.

  John Knox

  Tyrants, People, Promise

  John Knox (1831). “The history of the reformation of religion in Scotland”, p.462

  68 Copy quote

  Show source

• Tis not the many oaths that make the truth; But the plain single vow, that is vow'd true.

  William Shakespeare

  Promise, Vow

  William Shakespeare, Samuel Johnson, George Steevens, Isaac Reed (1778). “The Plays of William Shakespeare in Ten Volumes: With Corrections and Illustrations of Various Commentators”, p.101

  13 Copy quote

  Show source

• The important thing, Jesus is saying (in Matthew 5:33-37), is to tell the truth and keep one's pledges without insisting that a certain form of words must be used if it is to be binding. No oath is necessary for the truthful person... Their word is so reliable that nothing more than a statement is needed from them.

  D. A. Carson

  Jesus, Important, Truthful

  8 Copy quote

• It is Toussaint's supreme merit that while he saw European civilisation as a valuable and necessary thing, and strove to lay its foundations among his people, he never had the illusion that it conferred any moral superiority. He knew French, British, and Spanish imperialists for the insatiable gangsters that they were, that there is no oath too sacred for them to break, no crime, deception, treachery, cruelty, destruction of human life and property which they would not commit against those who could not defend themselves.

  C. L. R. James

  People, Deception, Sacred

  47 Copy quote

• They fix attention, heedless of your pain,
  With oaths like rivets forced into the brain;
  And e'en when sober truth prevails throughout,
  They swear it, till affirmance breeds a doubt.

  William Cowper

  Pain, Doubt, Brain

  William Cowper (1853). “The Poetical Works of William Cowper: With Life ; Six Engravings on Steel”, p.83

  18 Copy quote

  Show source

• Every profession will have its rogues, of course, no matter what oaths are sworn, but many health care professionals have a real commitment to serving the best interests of their clients.

  Peter Singer

  Real, Commitment, Care

  "Putting ethics before profits" by Peter Singer, www.theguardian.com. June 21, 2009.

  4 Copy quote

  Show source