--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I would rather be accused of breaking…" description: "\"I would rather be accused of breaking precedents than breaking promises.\" — John F. Kennedy" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c60/john-f-kennedy-246_accused_i-would-rather-be-accused-of-breaking-pr_1495690.jpg" --- # I would rather be accused of breaking precedents than… ![“I would rather be accused of breaking precedents than breaking promises.” quote by John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c60/john-f-kennedy-246_accused_i-would-rather-be-accused-of-breaking-pr_1495690.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c60/john-f-kennedy-246_accused_i-would-rather-be-accused-of-breaking-pr_1495690.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c60/john-f-kennedy-246_accused_i-would-rather-be-accused-of-breaking-pr_1495690.jpg) > “I would rather be accused of breaking precedents than breaking promises.” [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Choosing to challenge established norms is preferable to breaking trust with the public. **In simple terms:** Breaking precedents is better than breaking promises. Key Takeaway Uphold promises, even if it means challenging tradition. Themes integrity leadership change Mood thoughtful determined Type political philosophical When to use this quote - policy reform - constitutional debates - campaign promises Key Concepts ethical decision‑making political courage public trust Questions to Reflect On - What precedents are worth challenging? - How can promises be kept amid changing circumstances? A Different Perspective Risk of alienating allies when breaking tradition. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Breaking promises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/breaking-promises/) [Broken promises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/broken-promises/) [Keeping your word](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/keeping-your-word/) [Precedent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/precedent/) [Promise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/promise/) [Promises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/promises/) ## Related quotes > [When I went to law school, which after all was back in the dark ages, we never looked beyond our borders for precedents. As…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-day-o-connor/when-i-went-to-law-school-which-after-all-was-back-in-the-dark-ages/) [Sandra Day O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-day-o-connor/) > [The error of those who reason by precedents drawn from antiquity, respecting the rights of man, is that they do not go far enough…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/the-error-of-those-who-reason-by-precedents-drawn-from-antiquity-2/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [Precedents are the disgrace of legislation. They are not wanted to justify right measures, are absolutely insufficient to excuse wrong ones. They can only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-sterne/precedents-are-the-disgrace-of-legislation-they-are-not-wanted-to/) [Laurence Sterne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-sterne/) > [The glory of each generation is to make its own precedents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-glory-of-each-generation-is-to-make-its-own-precedents/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Precedents are treated by powerful minds as fetters with which to bind down the weak, as reasons with which to mistify the moderately informed,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-babbage/precedents-are-treated-by-powerful-minds-as-fetters-with-which-to/) [Charles Babbage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-babbage/) > [If you are strong enough, there are no precedents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/if-you-are-strong-enough-there-are-no-precedents/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) > [Stability means respecting precedents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arlen-specter/stability-means-respecting-precedents/) [Arlen Specter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arlen-specter/) > [It is found by experience that admirable laws and right precedents among the good have their origin in the misdeeds of others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tacitus/it-is-found-by-experience-that-admirable-laws-and-right-precedents/) [Tacitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tacitus/) > [Precedents once established are so much positive power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/precedents-once-established-are-so-much-positive-power/) [James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/) > [Every lawyer of experience comes to know (more or less unconsciously) that in the great majority of cases, the precedents are none too good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-frank/every-lawyer-of-experience-comes-to-know-more-or-less-unconsciously/) [Jerome Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-frank/) > [Precedents deliberately established by wise men are entitled to great weight. They are evidence of truth, but only evidence...But a solitary precedent...which has never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-clay/precedents-deliberately-established-by-wise-men-are-entitled-to-great/) [Henry Clay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-clay/) > [As to precedents, to be sure they will increase in course of time; but the more precedents there are, the less occasion is there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/as-to-precedents-to-be-sure-they-will-increase-in-course-of-time-but/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Precedents are dangerous things; let the rein of government then be braced and held with a steady hand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/precedents-are-dangerous-things-let-the-rein-of-government-then-be/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [What is today supported by precedents will hereafter become a precedent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tacitus/what-is-today-supported-by-precedents-will-hereafter-become-a/) [Tacitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tacitus/) > [We must follow the old authorities and precedents in criminal matters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-taylor-coleridge/we-must-follow-the-old-authorities-and-precedents-in-criminal-matters/) [Samuel Taylor Coleridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-taylor-coleridge/) ## More by John F. 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Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [We must recognize that every nation determines its policies in terms of its own interests.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/we-must-recognize-that-every-nation-determines-its-policies-in-terms/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [Someone always needs rescuing, yet there's only one person who ever seems to understand you. It's a lot like being Lassie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/someone-always-needs-rescuing-yet-there-s-only-one-person-who-ever/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [Student loans have been helpful to many. But they offer neither incentive nor assistance to those students who, by reason of family or other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/student-loans-have-been-helpful-to-many-but-they-offer-neither/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [Great crises produce great men, and great deeds of courage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/great-crises-produce-great-men-and-great-deeds-of-courage/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [There comes a point where you see no evidence that the carrot and diplomacy are working.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/there-comes-a-point-where-you-see-no-evidence-that-the-carrot-and/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [Suspicion on one side breeds suspicion on the other, and new weapons beget counter-weapons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/suspicion-on-one-side-breeds-suspicion-on-the-other-and-new-weapons/) [John F. 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Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [“The courage of life is often a less dramatic spectacle than the courage of a final moment; but it is no less a magnificent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/the-courage-of-life-is-often-a-less-dramatic-spectacle-than-the/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [Washington is a city of Southern efficiency and Northern charm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/washington-is-a-city-of-southern-efficiency-and-northern-charm/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [Peace does not rest in the charters and covenants alone. It lies in the hearts and minds of all people. So let us not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/peace-does-not-rest-in-the-charters-and-covenants-alone-it-lies-in/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) [Explore all 824 John F. 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