Oath Quotes

• 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

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• 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.

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• 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

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

  Veronica Rossi

  Feelings, Promise, Made

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• 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

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• 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.

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

  Aiden Wilson Tozer

  Real, Character, Promise

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• 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

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

  Rihanna

  Sticks, Ends

  Song: Umbrella

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• 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

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• 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”

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

  Solon

  Inspirational, Trust, Character

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• 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

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• Recognized probity is the surest of all oaths.

  Suzanne Curchod

  Probity

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• An oath that is not to bee made is not to be kept.

  George Herbert

  Bees, Made

  George Herbert (1941). “The works of George Herbert”, Oxford University Press

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• Oaths are the fossils of piety.

  George Santayana

  Promise, Fossils, Swearing

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

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• 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

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

  Samuel Butler

  Wind

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• 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

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• Oaths are not the credit of men but men of oaths.

  Aeschylus

  Truth, Lying, Men

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• 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.

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• 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

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• 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

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• I'll take thy word for faith, not ask thine oath; Who shuns not to break one will sure crack both.

  William Shakespeare

  Cracks, Break, Asks

  1607 Pericles to Helicanus. Pericles, sc.2, l.125-6.

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• The chief bond of the soldier is his oath of allegiance and love for the flag.

  Seneca the Younger

  Military, Soldier, And Love

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