Keeping one’s word is a cornerstone of integrity and trust. Throughout history, many influential figures have emphasized the importance of honor and reliability in their words. Here is a collection of 50 quotes that highlight the value of keeping your word.
1. “A promise made is a debt unpaid.” – Robert W. Service
2. “It is not only what we do but also what we do not do, for which we are accountable.” – Molière
3. “Words are free. It’s how you use them that may cost you.” – Anonymous
4. “The most important thing in communication is hearing what isn’t said.” – Peter Drucker
5. “The best way to predict the future is to create it.” – Peter Drucker
6. “Your word is your bond.” – Anonymous
7. “He who commits a wrong does not wish to be accused of it.” – Anonymous
8. “Integrity is doing the right thing, even when no one is watching.” – C.S. Lewis
9. “The true test of a man’s character is what he does when no one is watching.” – John Wooden
10. “A man is only as good as his word.” – Anonymous
11. “One of the most beautiful qualities of true friendship is to understand and to be understood.” – Seneca
12. “The best index to a person’s character is how he treats people who can’t do him any good, and how he treats people who can’t fight back.” – Abigail Van Buren
13. “Promises are the uniquely human way of ordering the future, making it predictable and reliable to the extent that this is humanly possible.” – Hannah Arendt
14. “The strength of a nation derives from the integrity of the home.” – Confucius
15. “Trust is built with consistency.” – Lincoln Chafee
See Also: 30 Abraham Lincoln Quotes Everyone Should Read
16. “There is no trust more sacred than the one the world holds with children.” – Kofi Annan
17. “A lie can travel halfway around the world while the truth is putting on its shoes.” – Mark Twain
18. “A promise is a cloud; fulfillment is rain.” – Arabian Proverb
19. “Words are like eggs dropped from great heights; you can no more call them back than ignore the consequences.” – Anonymous
20. “The only thing worse than being blind is having sight but no vision.” – Helen Keller
21. “Your actions speak so loudly, I cannot hear what you are saying.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
22. “Promises are only as good as the person who makes them.” – Anonymous
23. “A man’s word is his bond.” – Anonymous
24. “Honesty is the first chapter in the book of wisdom.” – Thomas Jefferson
25. “When you give someone your word, it’s a promise.” – Anonymous
26. “The quality of a person’s life is in direct proportion to their commitment to excellence, regardless of their chosen field of endeavor.” – Vince Lombardi
27. “The highest form of ignorance is when you reject something you don’t know anything about.” – Wayne Dyer
28. “Be sincere; be brief; be seated.” – Franklin D. Roosevelt
29. “The more you say, the less people remember.” – François Fénelon
30. “The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place.” – George Bernard Shaw
31. “The only thing worse than a liar is a liar that’s also a hypocrite!” – Tennessee Williams
32. “A promise is a commitment to be kept.” – Anonymous
33. “There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.” – Maya Angelou
34. “Honesty is the best policy, but insanity is a better defense.” – Steve Landesberg
35. “Never make a promise you don’t intend to keep.” – Anonymous
36. “You can’t fake quality any more than you can fake a good meal.” – William S. Burroughs
37. “To be trusted is a greater compliment than being loved.” – George MacDonald
38. “The value of a promise lies in the keeping of it.” – Anonymous
39. “The time is always right to do what is right.” – Martin Luther King Jr.
40. “Your reputation is what others think of you. Your character is what you think of yourself.” – Anonymous
41. “If you want to be trusted, be honest.” – Anonymous
42. “Be truthful, gentle, and fearless.” – Mahatma Gandhi
43. “It is not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change.” – Charles Darwin
44. “A man who was truthful in small things, will be truthful in big things.” – Anonymous
45. “Words are the most powerful drug used by mankind.” – Rudyard Kipling
46. “Speak only if it improves upon the silence.” – Mahatma Gandhi
47. “The measure of a man is what he does with power.” – Plato
48. “A word after a word after a word is power.” – Margaret Atwood
49. “The greatest way to live with honor in this world is to be what we pretend to be.” – Socrates
50. “The test of a man’s character is how he behaves when no one is watching.” – John Wooden
Conclusion
These quotes underscore the universal belief in the power and importance of keeping one’s word. Each highlights a facet of this essential value, from personal integrity to the impact on relationships and society.