No one, by swearing, makes themselves an ounce more…
““No one, by swearing, makes themselves an ounce more honest; any more than a man makes himself wealthy by counting his gold. Oaths may make a liar a liar yet again, having lied about the oath as well. But it cannot alter the worth of an honest man's word.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Oaths do not increase honesty; a man's word remains valuable regardless of swearing.
In simple terms: Swearing doesn’t make one more honest.
Key Takeaway
Value integrity over vows.
Themes
ethics
language
integrity
Mood
philosophical
serious
Type
Honest man:1
Honesty:1
Liar:0
Oath:1
Oaths:1
Promise:1
Promises:1
Man's Word:1
Make Liar:0
Lied Oath:0
Ounce Honest:0
Gold Oaths:0
When to use this quote
- legal settings
- personal relationships
Key Concepts
oaths
honesty
philosophical discourse
Questions to Reflect On
- Can a promise be trustworthy without an oath?
- What defines true honesty?
A Different Perspective
May ignore cultural importance of oaths.