--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Never take a solemn oath. People think…" description: "\"Never take a solemn oath. People think you mean it.\" — Norman Douglas" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/14a/norman-douglas-15021_mean_never-take-a-solemn-oath-people-think-yo_2374310.png" --- # Never take a solemn oath. People think you mean it. ![“Never take a solemn oath. People think you mean it.” quote by Norman Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/14a/norman-douglas-15021_mean_never-take-a-solemn-oath-people-think-yo_2374310.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/14a/norman-douglas-15021_mean_never-take-a-solemn-oath-people-think-yo_2374310.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/14a/norman-douglas-15021_mean_never-take-a-solemn-oath-people-think-yo_2374310.png) > “Never take a solemn oath. People think you mean it.” [Norman Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-douglas/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Solemn oaths are often taken lightly, making their sincerity doubtful. **In simple terms:** Oaths may lack sincerity. Key Takeaway Be cautious when making serious promises. Themes trust integrity communication Mood skeptical reflective Type ethical social When to use this quote - legal agreements - personal vows - political pledges Key Concepts social contract skepticism Questions to Reflect On - Do you trust solemn promises? - When is an oath meaningful? A Different Perspective People may still honor oaths despite doubt. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Mean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mean/) [Oath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oath/) [Oath People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oath-people-5858273/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [People Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-think/) [Solemn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/solemn/) [Solemn Oath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/solemn-oath-1040166/) ## Related quotes > [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/) > [“You must now--before God, Jon Stewart, and whoever's sleeping next to you (even if these entities are one and the same)--make a solemn oath.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/june-casagrande/you-must-now-before-god-jon-stewart-and-whoever-s-sleeping-next-to/) [June Casagrande](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/june-casagrande/) > [Human cruelty took the form of a pact with the deity. 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The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-ryun/the-oath-of-renunciation-and-allegiance-is-a-solemn-vow-taken-by/) [Jim Ryun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-ryun/) > [There is no constitutional or legal requirement that the President shall take the oath of office in the presence of the People but there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-harrison/there-is-no-constitutional-or-legal-requirement-that-the-president/) [Benjamin Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-harrison/) > [He who takes the oath today to preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States only assumes the solemn obligation which every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grover-cleveland/he-who-takes-the-oath-today-to-preserve-protect-and-defend-the/) [Grover Cleveland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grover-cleveland/) ## More by Norman Douglas > [People who have reformed themselves has contributed their full share towards the reformation of their neighbor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-douglas/people-who-have-reformed-themselves-has-contributed-their-full-share/) [Norman Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-douglas/) > [To find a friend one must close one eye. To keep him...two.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-douglas/to-find-a-friend-one-must-close-one-eye-to-keep-him-two/) [Norman Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-douglas/) > [The pine stays green in winter... wisdom in hardship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-douglas/the-pine-stays-green-in-winter-wisdom-in-hardship/) [Norman Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-douglas/) > [The true cook is the perfect blend, the only perfect blend, of artist and philosopher. He knows his worth: he holds in his palm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-douglas/the-true-cook-is-the-perfect-blend-the-only-perfect-blend-of-artist/) [Norman Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-douglas/) > [It seldom pays to be rude. 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Mothers at present can bring children into the world, but this performance is apt to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-douglas/nobody-can-misunderstand-a-boy-like-his-own-mother-mothers-at-present/) [Norman Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-douglas/) > [You can construct the character of a man and his age not only from what he does and says, but from what he fails…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-douglas/you-can-construct-the-character-of-a-man-and-his-age-not-only-from/) [Norman Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-douglas/) > [Bouillabaisse is only good because cooked by the French, who, if they cared to try, could produce an excellent and nutritious substitute out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-douglas/bouillabaisse-is-only-good-because-cooked-by-the-french-who-if-they/) [Norman Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-douglas/) [Explore all 44 Norman Douglas quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-douglas/) ## More Mean quotes > [That we have the vote means nothing. 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You might be good at telling a story, but that doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/it-s-like-the-query-letter-problem-that-i-just-mentioned-magnified-a/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [A home is not a museum. It doesn't have to be furnished with Picasso paintings, or Sheraton suites, or Oriental rugs, or Chinese pottery.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-m-cain/a-home-is-not-a-museum-it-doesn-t-have-to-be-furnished-with-picasso/) [James M. Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-m-cain/) > [I painted the words "GREAT ADVENTURE" in Beijing, Dallas, San Francisco, Copenhagen, and Japan. 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