--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If I made a commitment, I stood by that…" description: "\"If I made a commitment, I stood by that commitment - and try to make it real. Because when you become leaders, the most important thing you have is you..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/453/michelle-obama-518_commitment_if-i-made-a-commitment-i-stood-by-that-c_2871090.jpg" --- # If I made a commitment, I stood by that commitment - and… ![“If I made a commitment, I stood by that commitment - and try to make it real. Because when you become leaders, the most important thing you have is your word, your trust. That's where respect comes from.” quote by Michelle Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/453/michelle-obama-518_commitment_if-i-made-a-commitment-i-stood-by-that-c_2871090.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/453/michelle-obama-518_commitment_if-i-made-a-commitment-i-stood-by-that-c_2871090.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/453/michelle-obama-518_commitment_if-i-made-a-commitment-i-stood-by-that-c_2871090.jpg) > “If I made a commitment, I stood by that commitment - and try to make it real. Because when you become leaders, the most important thing you have is your word, your trust. That's where respect comes from.” [Michelle Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-obama/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Leaders must honor their promises; integrity builds trust and earns respect. **In simple terms:** Keeping promises builds trust. Key Takeaway Honor commitments. Themes leadership integrity trust Mood inspirational serious Type motivational leadership When to use this quote - business meetings - political negotiations - team management - public speaking Key Concepts Ethics reputation accountability Questions to Reflect On - How do you ensure you keep promises? - What happens when trust is broken? A Different Perspective People may break promises under pressure. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Commitment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/commitment/) [Commitment Stood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/commitment-stood-3928680/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real/) [Real Leaders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real-leaders/) [Respect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/respect/) [Stood Commitment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stood-commitment-3928679/) [Trust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trust/) [Trust respect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trust-respect/) [Try](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/try/) ## Related quotes > [ The president \[Barack Obama\] asked for a commitment of, I think, 100,000 jobs for veterans and military spouses over the next couple of years.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-obama/the-president-barack-obama-asked-for-a-commitment-of-i-think-100-000/) [Michelle Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-obama/) > [ We got a commitment that 3 million nurses are going to be trained to better identify these signs \[of PTSD\], because, you know, when… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-obama/we-got-a-commitment-that-3-million-nurses-are-going-to-be-trained-to/) [Michelle Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-obama/) > [ The real leadership of the opposition is never, ever gonna do anything but continue to ramp up efforts to stop \[Donald\] Trump or destroy… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/the-real-leadership-of-the-opposition-is-never-ever-gonna-do-anything/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [Real leadership is being the person others will gladly and confidently follow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/real-leadership-is-being-the-person-others-will-gladly-and/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [The real leaders of tomorrow are already working on the next big idea, the one that will drive growth into future. They're already far…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-enrico/the-real-leaders-of-tomorrow-are-already-working-on-the-next-big-idea/) [Roger Enrico](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-enrico/) > [The main challenge is technology and that's something I really push and work closely with Adidas on. They're real leaders in sports performance; always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stella-mccartney/the-main-challenge-is-technology-and-that-s-something-i-really-push/) [Stella McCartney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stella-mccartney/) > [There are elites that are real leaders and role models. There are elites that are really selfish and want to pull up the ladder…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-friedman/there-are-elites-that-are-real-leaders-and-role-models-there-are/) [Thomas Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-friedman/) > [We're up against the conventional thinking that says your ability to lead as president comes from longevity in Washington or proximity to the White…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/we-re-up-against-the-conventional-thinking-that-says-your-ability-to/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [“He wrestled with himself, like Jacob . . . like every leader ever to set foot on this earth. It is not faith that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guillermo-del-toro/he-wrestled-with-himself-like-jacob-like-every-leader-ever-to-set/) [Guillermo del Toro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guillermo-del-toro/) > [“We're all great lawyers when blame comes to put but the real leaders take the blame even when it's not theirs.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eve-halimi/we-re-all-great-lawyers-when-blame-comes-to-put-but-the-real-leaders/) [Eve Halimi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eve-halimi/) > [It's sort of easy to make a challenge. It's very hard to put the full fate of your government behind the challenge and make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jody-williams/it-s-sort-of-easy-to-make-a-challenge-it-s-very-hard-to-put-the-full/) [Jody Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jody-williams/) > [Anyone can start something new. It takes real leaders to stop something old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/anyone-can-start-something-new-it-takes-real-leaders-to-stop/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Only the mediocre die always at their best. Real leaders are always improving - and raising their bar on how superbly they can perform…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/only-the-mediocre-die-always-at-their-best-real-leaders-are-always/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [While followers idealize the real, leaders realize the ideal... They outshine with their power of love those whose only motivation is love of power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debashis-chatterjee/while-followers-idealize-the-real-leaders-realize-the-ideal-they/) [Debashis Chatterjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debashis-chatterjee/) > [By leadership, I mean taking complete responsibility for an organization's well-being and growth, and changing it for the better. Real leadership is not about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-l-joss/by-leadership-i-mean-taking-complete-responsibility-for-an/) [Robert L. Joss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-l-joss/) ## More by Michelle Obama > [It's hard to change adults, and it's hard to change it from a political position or a perceived political position.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-obama/it-s-hard-to-change-adults-and-it-s-hard-to-change-it-from-a/) [Michelle Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-obama/) > [ The president \[Barack Obama\] asked for a commitment of, I think, 100,000 jobs for veterans and military spouses over the next couple of years.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-obama/the-president-barack-obama-asked-for-a-commitment-of-i-think-100-000/) [Michelle Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-obama/) > [You work hard for what you want in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-obama/you-work-hard-for-what-you-want-in-life/) [Michelle Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-obama/) > [We must once again come together and stand together for the man we can trust to keep moving this great country forward my husband,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-obama/we-must-once-again-come-together-and-stand-together-for-the-man-we/) [Michelle Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-obama/) > [We're starting to see, as the economy improves, that the unemployment rate among veterans and military spouses - we're seeing some improvement in those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-obama/we-re-starting-to-see-as-the-economy-improves-that-the-unemployment/) [Michelle Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-obama/) > [There's so much going on in the healthcare system that makes it difficult for women to really have a strong economic hold if insurance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-obama/there-s-so-much-going-on-in-the-healthcare-system-that-makes-it/) [Michelle Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-obama/) > [In the 10 cities with the nation's highest obesity rates, the direct costs connected with obesity and obesity-related diseases are roughly $50 million per…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-obama/in-the-10-cities-with-the-nation-s-highest-obesity-rates-the-direct/) [Michelle Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-obama/) > [What I admire most about Hillary is that she never buckles under pressure. She never takes the easy way out. And Hillary Clinton has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-obama/what-i-admire-most-about-hillary-is-that-she-never-buckles-under/) [Michelle Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-obama/) > [A lot of young people think they're invincible, but the truth is young people are knuckleheads... Now young people can get insurance for as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-obama/a-lot-of-young-people-think-they-re-invincible-but-the-truth-is-young/) [Michelle Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-obama/) > [One of the lessons that I grew up with was to always stay true to yourself and never let what somebody else says distract…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-obama/one-of-the-lessons-that-i-grew-up-with-was-to-always-stay-true-to/) [Michelle Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-obama/) > [I have never felt more confident in myself, more clear on who I am as a woman. But I am constantly thinking about my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-obama/i-have-never-felt-more-confident-in-myself-more-clear-on-who-i-am-as/) [Michelle Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-obama/) > [ We got a commitment that 3 million nurses are going to be trained to better identify these signs \[of PTSD\], because, you know, when… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-obama/we-got-a-commitment-that-3-million-nurses-are-going-to-be-trained-to/) [Michelle Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-obama/) > [We're our kids' first and best role models. So the first question is, what are you as a mom or a dad doing every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-obama/we-re-our-kids-first-and-best-role-models-so-the-first-question-is/) [Michelle Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-obama/) > [I've always tried to make sure that what I do really connects with the broader agenda of what my husband is trying to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-obama/i-ve-always-tried-to-make-sure-that-what-i-do-really-connects-with/) [Michelle Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-obama/) > [I know from experience that if I truly want to leave a better world for my daughters, and all of our sons and daughters;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-obama/i-know-from-experience-that-if-i-truly-want-to-leave-a-better-world/) [Michelle Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-obama/) [Explore all 504 Michelle Obama quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-obama/) ## More Commitment quotes > [Deepen your existing spiritual commitment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-buettner/deepen-your-existing-spiritual-commitment/) [Dan Buettner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-buettner/) > [We can find common qualities and common values that have made Britain the country it is. Our belief in tolerance and liberty which shines…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-brown/we-can-find-common-qualities-and-common-values-that-have-made-britain/) [Gordon Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-brown/) > [Certainly these are not easy times. But history does not contain very many easy times. Years from now, we will look back at this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-ingraham/certainly-these-are-not-easy-times-but-history-does-not-contain-very/) [Laura Ingraham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-ingraham/) > [Trust is about keeping commitments, but in many instances, circumstances change and organizations therefore shed commitments, things such as retiree medical benefits, pension obligations,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-pfeffer/trust-is-about-keeping-commitments-but-in-many-instances/) [Jeffrey Pfeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-pfeffer/) > [“You make me believe in happiness... if I had my way, if anything were up to me, I’d never be without you. You are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/courtney-kirchoff/you-make-me-believe-in-happiness-if-i-had-my-way-if-anything-were-up/) [Courtney Kirchoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/courtney-kirchoff/) > [Golf is such a big commitment, and so is acting. Sometimes you have to give up something to do something else, although, when I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-newton/golf-is-such-a-big-commitment-and-so-is-acting-sometimes-you-have-to/) [Kathryn Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-newton/) > [All of the barriers to innovation in the energy sector are arguments for a big commitment to public investment. Only the public sector can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-nordhaus/all-of-the-barriers-to-innovation-in-the-energy-sector-are-arguments/) [Ted Nordhaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-nordhaus/) > [When you make a commitment to a relationship, you invest your attention and energy in it more profoundly because you now experience ownership of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-de-angelis/when-you-make-a-commitment-to-a-relationship-you-invest-your/) [Barbara De Angelis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-de-angelis/) > [ “For \[erotically intelligent couples\], love is a vessel that contains both security and adventure, and commitment offers one of the great luxuries of life:… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-perel/for-erotically-intelligent-couples-love-is-a-vessel-that-contains/) [Esther Perel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-perel/) > [Having a point to start is important. You know that when you decide to write something it's like a commitment. It's like falling in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabel-allende/having-a-point-to-start-is-important-you-know-that-when-you-decide-to/) [Isabel Allende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabel-allende/) > [A commitment to lifelong learning is a natural expression of the practice of living consciously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-branden/a-commitment-to-lifelong-learning-is-a-natural-expression-of-the/) [Nathaniel Branden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-branden/) > [A lasting relationship consists of the 3 C's: Commitment. Communication. Compromise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/a-lasting-relationship-consists-of-the-3-c-s-commitment-communication/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [I've developed a huge regard for Toyota for its environmental awareness, for its immense commitment to research and development in this field, and for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-strong/i-ve-developed-a-huge-regard-for-toyota-for-its-environmental/) [Maurice Strong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-strong/) > [And the commitment that I've been giving to the Australian people is that there'll be no surprises and no excuses under a Coalition government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-abbott/and-the-commitment-that-i-ve-been-giving-to-the-australian-people-is/) [Tony Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-abbott/) > [As a result of reading science fiction when I was eight, I grew up with an interest in music, architecture, city planning, transportation, politics,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/as-a-result-of-reading-science-fiction-when-i-was-eight-i-grew-up/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) [Browse all 4,004 Commitment quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/commitment/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If I made a commitment, I stood by that commitment - and try to make it real. 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