--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I will answer anything I can with honor…" description: "\"I will answer anything I can with honor, but not about others.\" — John Brown" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a4/john-brown-15897_answer_i-will-answer-anything-i-can-with-honor_2606174.png" --- # I will answer anything I can with honor, but not about… ![“I will answer anything I can with honor, but not about others.” quote by John Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a4/john-brown-15897_answer_i-will-answer-anything-i-can-with-honor_2606174.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a4/john-brown-15897_answer_i-will-answer-anything-i-can-with-honor_2606174.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a4/john-brown-15897_answer_i-will-answer-anything-i-can-with-honor_2606174.png) > “I will answer anything I can with honor, but not about others.” [John Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-brown/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Answer honorably when asked, but never speak about others. **In simple terms:** Answer truthfully, avoid gossip. Key Takeaway Speak with integrity. Themes honor integrity privacy Mood thoughtful serious Type historical ethical When to use this quote - public debates - personal interviews - media appearances Key Concepts ethics personal responsibility Questions to Reflect On - When should you reveal others’ actions? - How to balance honesty and privacy? A Different Perspective Silence may hide important truths. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Answer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/answer/) [Answer Honor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/answer-honor-1987886/) [Answers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/answers/) [Honor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honor/) [I can](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-can/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) ## Related quotes > [Sometimes a question can hurt more than an answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/sometimes-a-question-can-hurt-more-than-an-answer/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [Questioners sooner or later end up in a library... And answers are dangerous; they kill your wonder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/questioners-sooner-or-later-end-up-in-a-library-and-answers-are/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [Leave, with no answer. Move on to the next question.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-kushner/leave-with-no-answer-move-on-to-the-next-question/) [Rachel Kushner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-kushner/) > [I like films that deal with some of those questions that you can never answer: 'Why are we here? What's it about? What happens…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dominic-monaghan/i-like-films-that-deal-with-some-of-those-questions-that-you-can/) [Dominic Monaghan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dominic-monaghan/) > [Where did the world come from? The question has an answer, even though I cannot get to it. It is a good question. 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But how can He give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-barth/when-we-are-at-our-wits-end-for-an-answer-then-the-holy-spirit-can/) [Karl Barth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-barth/) > [“Often the most tricky questions are the ones we secretly know the answers of. What are you running from? What are you waiting for?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sanhita-baruah/often-the-most-tricky-questions-are-the-ones-we-secretly-know-the/) [Sanhita Baruah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sanhita-baruah/) > [every question possessed a power that was lost in the answer . . .](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elie-wiesel/every-question-possessed-a-power-that-was-lost-in-the-answer/) [Elie Wiesel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elie-wiesel/) > [My answer is bring 'em on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/my-answer-is-bring-em-on/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [A wiki works best where you're trying to answer a question that you can't easily pose, where there's not a natural structure that's known…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ward-cunningham/a-wiki-works-best-where-you-re-trying-to-answer-a-question-that-you/) [Ward Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ward-cunningham/) > [The boldness of asking deep questions may require unforeseen flexibility if we are to accept the answers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-greene/the-boldness-of-asking-deep-questions-may-require-unforeseen/) [Brian Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-greene/) > [Enjoying life isn't about finding the answers, but living the questions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-margolis/enjoying-life-isn-t-about-finding-the-answers-but-living-the-questions/) [Sue Margolis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-margolis/) > [If they can get you asking the wrong questions, they don't have to worry about answers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-pynchon/if-they-can-get-you-asking-the-wrong-questions-they-don-t-have-to/) [Thomas Pynchon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-pynchon/) ## More by John Brown > [Whereas, Slavery, throughout its entire existence in the United States is none other than a most barbarous, unprovoked, and unjustifiable War of one portion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-brown/whereas-slavery-throughout-its-entire-existence-in-the-united-states/) [John Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-brown/) > [When I strike, the bees will begin to swarm, and I want you to help hive them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-brown/when-i-strike-the-bees-will-begin-to-swarm-and-i-want-you-to-help/) [John Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-brown/) > [Be mild with the mild, shrewd with the crafty, confiding to the honest, rough to the ruffian, and a thunderbolt to the liar. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-brown/be-mild-with-the-mild-shrewd-with-the-crafty-confiding-to-the-honest/) [John Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-brown/) > [“These men are all talk. What we need is action—action!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-brown/these-men-are-all-talk-what-we-need-is-action-action/) [John Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-brown/) > [If it is deemed necessary that I should forfeit my life for the furtherance of the ends of justice, and mingle my blood further…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-brown/if-it-is-deemed-necessary-that-i-should-forfeit-my-life-for-the/) [John Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-brown/) > [I am gaining in health slowly, and am quite cheerful in view of my approaching end, - being fully persuaded that I am worth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-brown/i-am-gaining-in-health-slowly-and-am-quite-cheerful-in-view-of-my/) [John Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-brown/) > [I want you to understand that I respect the rights of the poorest and weakest of colored people, oppressed by the slave system, just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-brown/i-want-you-to-understand-that-i-respect-the-rights-of-the-poorest-and/) [John Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-brown/) > [Caution, Sir! I am eternally tired of hearing that word caution. It is nothing but the word of cowardice!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-brown/caution-sir-i-am-eternally-tired-of-hearing-that-word-caution-it-is/) [John Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-brown/) > [So far as I ever observed God's dealings with my soul, the flights of preachers sometimes entertained me, but it was Scripture expressions which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-brown/so-far-as-i-ever-observed-god-s-dealings-with-my-soul-the-flights-of/) [John Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-brown/) > [Holiness does not consist in mystic speculations, enthusiastic fervours, or uncommanded austerities; it consists in thinking as God thinks, and willing as God wills.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-brown/holiness-does-not-consist-in-mystic-speculations-enthusiastic/) [John Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-brown/) > [Now let us thank th' eternal power, convinced That Heaven but tries our virtue by affliction: That oft the cloud that wraps the present…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-brown/now-let-us-thank-th-eternal-power-convinced-that-heaven-but-tries-our/) [John Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-brown/) > [I dont think the people of the slave states will ever consider the subject of slavery in its true light till some other argument…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-brown/i-dont-think-the-people-of-the-slave-states-will-ever-consider-the/) [John Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-brown/) > [No man, with a man's heart in him, gets far on his way without some bitter, soul-searching disappointment. - Happy he who is brave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-brown/no-man-with-a-man-s-heart-in-him-gets-far-on-his-way-without-some-2/) [John Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-brown/) > [There is a shrine in the temple of age, where lie forever embalmed the memories of such as have deserved well of their country…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-brown/there-is-a-shrine-in-the-temple-of-age-where-lie-forever-embalmed-the/) [John Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-brown/) > [The angels are ministering spirits; they are not governing spirits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-brown/the-angels-are-ministering-spirits-they-are-not-governing-spirits/) [John Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-brown/) [Explore all 41 John Brown quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-brown/) ## More Answer quotes > [Sometimes a question can hurt more than an answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/sometimes-a-question-can-hurt-more-than-an-answer/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [What you are is a question only you can answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-mcmaster-bujold/what-you-are-is-a-question-only-you-can-answer/) [Lois McMaster Bujold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-mcmaster-bujold/) > [Enjoying life isn't about finding the answers, but living the questions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-margolis/enjoying-life-isn-t-about-finding-the-answers-but-living-the-questions/) [Sue Margolis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-margolis/) > [The boldness of asking deep questions may require unforeseen flexibility if we are to accept the answers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-greene/the-boldness-of-asking-deep-questions-may-require-unforeseen/) [Brian Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-greene/) > [“And if you can’t say yes, answer anyway. Because I’d rather live with the answer than die with the question.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-ellis/and-if-you-can-t-say-yes-answer-anyway-because-i-d-rather-live-with/) [Jon Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-ellis/) > [“There is a cure and answer to everything, we just haven't found them yet.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eve-halimi/there-is-a-cure-and-answer-to-everything-we-just-haven-t-found-them/) [Eve Halimi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eve-halimi/) > [Whenever I'm asked about Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi, I always answer: 'Neymar is the best,' not just because of his goals but because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberto-carlos/whenever-i-m-asked-about-cristiano-ronaldo-or-lionel-messi-i-always/) [Roberto Carlos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberto-carlos/) > [A wiki works best where you're trying to answer a question that you can't easily pose, where there's not a natural structure that's known…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ward-cunningham/a-wiki-works-best-where-you-re-trying-to-answer-a-question-that-you/) [Ward Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ward-cunningham/) > [“Those are good questions. I recognize good questions, because I can come up with them myself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-brust/those-are-good-questions-i-recognize-good-questions-because-i-can/) [Steven Brust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-brust/) > [My answer is bring 'em on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/my-answer-is-bring-em-on/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [I'll answer anything... I'm brutally honest, actually, which gets me in trouble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-mclachlan/i-ll-answer-anything-i-m-brutally-honest-actually-which-gets-me-in/) [Sarah McLachlan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-mclachlan/) > [“...I guess I can put two and two together." "Sometimes the answer's four," I said, "and sometimes it's twenty-two...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dashiell-hammett/i-guess-i-can-put-two-and-two-together-sometimes-the-answer-s-four-i/) [Dashiell Hammett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dashiell-hammett/) > [Jumping someone is never the answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/jumping-someone-is-never-the-answer/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I play along myself, even though I can't help the player. So I can't say what I think the answer might be. But I'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paddy-mcguinness/i-play-along-myself-even-though-i-can-t-help-the-player-so-i-can-t/) [Paddy McGuinness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paddy-mcguinness/) > [Sometimes the question is complicated, but the answers are simple.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-suess/sometimes-the-question-is-complicated-but-the-answers-are-simple/) [Dr Suess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-suess/) [Browse all 2,090 Answer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/answer/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I will answer anything I can with honor, but not about others.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Brown" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-brown/i-will-answer-anything-i-can-with-honor-but-not-about-others/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Answer" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-brown/i-will-answer-anything-i-can-with-honor-but-not-about-others/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a4/john-brown-15897_answer_i-will-answer-anything-i-can-with-honor_2606174.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a4/john-brown-15897_answer_i-will-answer-anything-i-can-with-honor_2606174.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a4/john-brown-15897_answer_i-will-answer-anything-i-can-with-honor_2606174.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I will answer anything I can with honor, but not about others.” — John Brown", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "John Brown", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-brown/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I will answer anything I can...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-brown/i-will-answer-anything-i-can-with-honor-but-not-about-others/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-brown/i-will-answer-anything-i-can-with-honor-but-not-about-others/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```