Interest Quote by Edmund Waller
“What use of oaths, of promise, or of test, where men regard no God but interest?”
About This Quote
Source Poem: "The Use of Oaths", 1650
People prioritize personal interest over divine or moral commitments, questioning the value of oaths.
In simple terms: Interest trumps faith.
Key Takeaway
Reflect on motives behind promises.
Themes
faith
interest
morality
oaths
skepticism
Mood
critical
contemplative
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- political negotiations
- legal contracts
- personal relationships
- religious vows
Key Concepts
philosophy
ethics
literary criticism
Questions to Reflect On
- Why do we sometimes value self‑interest over higher principles?
- Can oaths retain meaning in a pragmatic world?
A Different Perspective
May overlook genuine belief systems.
![“Next came the Patent laws. These began in England in 1624; and, in this country, with the adoption of our constitution. Before then [these?], any man might instantly use what another had invented; so that the inventor had no special advantage from his own invention. The patent system changed this…” quote by Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/449/abraham-lincoln-88_adoption_next-came-the-patent-laws-these-began-in_1828.jpg)
