--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Oath-taking is really a pathetic…" description: "\"Oath-taking is really a pathetic confession of our own dishonesty. What do we find it necessary to introduce our promises by some tremendous formula? T..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/56b/john-stott-1926_oath_oath-taking-is-really-a-pathetic-confess_1950049.jpg" --- # Oath-taking is really a pathetic confession of our own… ![“Oath-taking is really a pathetic confession of our own dishonesty. What do we find it necessary to introduce our promises by some tremendous formula? The only reason is that we know our simple word is not likely to be trusted. So we try to induce people to believe us by adding a solemn oath.” quote by John Stott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/56b/john-stott-1926_oath_oath-taking-is-really-a-pathetic-confess_1950049.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/56b/john-stott-1926_oath_oath-taking-is-really-a-pathetic-confess_1950049.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/56b/john-stott-1926_oath_oath-taking-is-really-a-pathetic-confess_1950049.jpg) > “Oath-taking is really a pathetic confession of our own dishonesty. What do we find it necessary to introduce our promises by some tremendous formula? The only reason is that we know our simple word is not likely to be trusted. So we try to induce people to believe us by adding a solemn oath.” [John Stott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stott/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People use grand oaths because simple promises feel unreliable, so they add solemnity to gain trust. **In simple terms:** Oaths mask distrust in simple promises. Key Takeaway Recognize when words need backing beyond formality. Themes trust honesty communication Mood skeptical reflective Type philosophical critical When to use this quote - legal agreements - personal relationships - political pledges Key Concepts social contracts psychology credibility Questions to Reflect On - Do you rely on oaths or actions? - How can trust be built without grand language? A Different Perspective Oaths can be empty if not matched by action. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Oath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oath/) ## Related quotes > [A starship captain's most solemn oath is that he will give his life, even his entire crew, rather than violate the Prime Directive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-t-kirk/a-starship-captain-s-most-solemn-oath-is-that-he-will-give-his-life/) [James T Kirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-t-kirk/) > [“..."I won't go to Mrs Henne-Falcon's party. I swear on the Bible I won't." Now surely all would be well, he thought. 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Conway III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-t-conway-iii/) > [As members of Congress, we take a solemn oath to 'support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-ray-lujan/as-members-of-congress-we-take-a-solemn-oath-to-support-and-defend/) [Ben Ray Lujan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-ray-lujan/) > [“Theodore, I don’t think I have to tell you but …” “I won’t mention the little incident, your grace. Not even on my deathbed.”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anya-wylde/theodore-i-don-t-think-i-have-to-tell-you-but-i-won-t-mention-the/) [Anya Wylde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anya-wylde/) > [It is," I said. "And it's not even difficult. But I need your promise on the River Styx." "What?" Dionysus cried. "You don't trust…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/it-is-i-said-and-it-s-not-even-difficult-but-i-need-your-promise-on/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [“First, I want your solemn oath not even to talk in your sleep about this job." "If my simple word is not good, is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/first-i-want-your-solemn-oath-not-even-to-talk-in-your-sleep-about/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [Never take a solemn oath. People think you mean it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-douglas/never-take-a-solemn-oath-people-think-you-mean-it/) [Norman Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-douglas/) > [Tonight - by taking this solemn oath - I am no longer a private citizen but the Mayor of the City of Chicago.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-byrne/tonight-by-taking-this-solemn-oath-i-am-no-longer-a-private-citizen/) [Jane Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-byrne/) > [“When you take a solemn oath your heart and soul listens, then perception of consciousness and unity comes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vasilios-karpos/when-you-take-a-solemn-oath-your-heart-and-soul-listens-then/) [Vasilios Karpos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vasilios-karpos/) > [“On my solemn oath, Edmund, I'd gladly face not having an acre of land to call my own, nor a penny in the bank,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-o-neill/on-my-solemn-oath-edmund-i-d-gladly-face-not-having-an-acre-of-land/) [Eugene O'Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-o-neill/) > [Human cruelty took the form of a pact with the deity. A solemn oath was made to kill everything, in which people forbade themselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-renan/human-cruelty-took-the-form-of-a-pact-with-the-deity-a-solemn-oath/) [Ernest Renan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-renan/) > [You are also asked to take an oath, and that's the oath of service. The oath of service is not to secrecy, but to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/you-are-also-asked-to-take-an-oath-and-that-s-the-oath-of-service-the/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [A liar freely gives his oath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-malloch/a-liar-freely-gives-his-oath/) [Douglas Malloch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-malloch/) ## More by John Stott > [Prayer is not a convenient device for imposing our will upon God, or bending his will to ours, but the prescribed way of subordinating…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stott/prayer-is-not-a-convenient-device-for-imposing-our-will-upon-god-or/) [John Stott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stott/) > [Mission arises from the heart of God Himself and is communicated from His heart to ours. Mission is the global outreach of the global…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stott/mission-arises-from-the-heart-of-god-himself-and-is-communicated-from/) [John Stott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stott/) > [ \[Christian rebellion\] arises from the doctrine of mankind made in the image of God, and therefore protests against all forms of dehumanization. It sets… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stott/christian-rebellion-arises-from-the-doctrine-of-mankind-made-in-the/) [John Stott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stott/) > [All of us have inflated views of ourselves, especially in self-righteousn ess, until we have visited a place called Calvary. It is there, at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stott/all-of-us-have-inflated-views-of-ourselves-especially-in-self/) [John Stott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stott/) > [A deaf church is a dead church: that is an unalterable principle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stott/a-deaf-church-is-a-dead-church-that-is-an-unalterable-principle/) [John Stott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stott/) > [So there is such a thing as perfect hatred, just as there is such a thing as righteous anger. 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It is not easy to decide which is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stott/when-we-look-at-the-cross-we-see-the-justice-love-wisdom-and-power-of/) [John Stott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stott/) > [If God speaks to us about himself and his own glorious greatness, we respond by humbling ourselves before him in worship... If He speaks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stott/if-god-speaks-to-us-about-himself-and-his-own-glorious-greatness-we/) [John Stott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stott/) > [There is something inherently inappropriate about cherishing small ambitions for God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stott/there-is-something-inherently-inappropriate-about-cherishing-small/) [John Stott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stott/) > [Every powerful movement has had its philosophy which has gripped the mind, fired the imagination and captured the devotion of its adherents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stott/every-powerful-movement-has-had-its-philosophy-which-has-gripped-the/) [John Stott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stott/) > [“A guilty conscience is a great blessing, but only if it drives us to come home.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stott/a-guilty-conscience-is-a-great-blessing-but-only-if-it-drives-us-to/) [John Stott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stott/) > [The concept of substitution lies at the heart of both sin and salvation. For the essence of sin is man substituting himself for God,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stott/the-concept-of-substitution-lies-at-the-heart-of-both-sin-and/) [John Stott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stott/) [Explore all 198 John Stott quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stott/) ## More Oath quotes > [A liar freely gives his oath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-malloch/a-liar-freely-gives-his-oath/) [Douglas Malloch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-malloch/) > [You are also asked to take an oath, and that's the oath of service. The oath of service is not to secrecy, but to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/you-are-also-asked-to-take-an-oath-and-that-s-the-oath-of-service-the/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [Thousands of Americans have given their lives in Afghanistan and Iraq upholding their oaths and defending this nation. Chelsea Manning broke her oath and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mccain/thousands-of-americans-have-given-their-lives-in-afghanistan-and-iraq/) [John McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccain/) > [And hast thou sworn on every slight pretence, Till perjuries are common as bad pence, While thousands, careless of the damning sin, Kiss the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-cowper/and-hast-thou-sworn-on-every-slight-pretence-till-perjuries-are/) [William Cowper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-cowper/) > [“I am here, forever, to protect you. To help you, to love you. To keep you happy.” It was an oath that every elf…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristina-aziz/i-am-here-forever-to-protect-you-to-help-you-to-love-you-to-keep-you/) Kristina Aziz > [To require a citizen to sign a loyalty oath is to destroy some of the loyalty he could otherwise claim, since any subsequent loyal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-f-skinner/to-require-a-citizen-to-sign-a-loyalty-oath-is-to-destroy-some-of-the/) [B. F. Skinner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-f-skinner/) > [“Just say, dakhilak.” Without hesitation, “Dakhilak.” He nodded. Her accent was getting no better. “Now, you can never take it back.” “Well, what does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/v-s-carnes/just-say-dakhilak-without-hesitation-dakhilak-he-nodded-her-accent/) [V.S. Carnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/v-s-carnes/) > [If I had to describe my remarks this evening frankly as if I were in police court and on oath, so to speak I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robertson-davies/if-i-had-to-describe-my-remarks-this-evening-frankly-as-if-i-were-in/) [Robertson Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robertson-davies/) > [Have you ever watched someone become American? Last week, at a national citizenship conference I organize, thirty immigrants from 17 countries swore an oath…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-liu/have-you-ever-watched-someone-become-american-last-week-at-a-national/) [Eric Liu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-liu/) > [“Jer molle pe poner. Enel mordió je nej afval trohem verretn." I have been made to protect you. Only in death will I be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/jer-molle-pe-poner-enel-mordi-je-nej-afval-trohem-verretn-i-have-been/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) > [By my count, the Deputy Prime Minister has sworn an oath of loyalty and service to Her Majesty no fewer than four times in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elsie-wayne/by-my-count-the-deputy-prime-minister-has-sworn-an-oath-of-loyalty/) Elsie Wayne > [When a man takes an oath... he's holding his own self in his own hands. Like water.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-bolt/when-a-man-takes-an-oath-he-s-holding-his-own-self-in-his-own-hands/) [Robert Bolt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-bolt/) > [The sovereignty of America has just been eroded in plain daylight by Clinton and the Congress, who take an oath to the Constitution. 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