--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: For, truly speaking, whoever provokes me…" description: "\"For, truly speaking, whoever provokes me to a good act or thought has given me a pledge of his fidelity to virtue,--he has come under the bonds to adhe..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/272/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_causes_for-truly-speaking-whoever-provokes-me-t_2732197.png" --- # For, truly speaking, whoever provokes me to a good act or… ![“For, truly speaking, whoever provokes me to a good act or thought has given me a pledge of his fidelity to virtue,--he has come under the bonds to adhere to that cause to which we are jointly attached.” quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/272/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_causes_for-truly-speaking-whoever-provokes-me-t_2732197.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/272/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_causes_for-truly-speaking-whoever-provokes-me-t_2732197.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/272/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_causes_for-truly-speaking-whoever-provokes-me-t_2732197.png) > “For, truly speaking, whoever provokes me to a good act or thought has given me a pledge of his fidelity to virtue,--he has come under the bonds to adhere to that cause to which we are jointly attached.” [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Encouraging others to inspire virtue creates a mutual commitment to moral excellence. **In simple terms:** Inspiring good binds people together. Key Takeaway Cultivate mutual moral support. Themes virtue influence commitment community morality Mood thoughtful inspirational Type philosophical ethical When to use this quote - mentoring - peer support - ethical leadership - community service Key Concepts ethical reciprocity character development Questions to Reflect On - How do you recognize genuine moral encouragement? - What safeguards prevent manipulation? A Different Perspective Not all influences are positive; motives may be self‑serving. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bonds Adhere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bonds-adhere-2963493/) [Causes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/causes/) [Fidelity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fidelity/) [Fidelity Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fidelity-virtue-2963492/) [Given](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/given/) [Given Pledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/given-pledge-2297533/) [Influence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/influence/) [Pledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pledge/) [Pledge Fidelity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pledge-fidelity-2963491/) [Provoking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/provoking/) [Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtue/) ## Related quotes > [Fidelity is a virtue which should be frequently proved, but not always.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-sharif/fidelity-is-a-virtue-which-should-be-frequently-proved-but-not-always/) [Omar Sharif](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-sharif/) > [“FIDELITY, n. A virtue peculiar to those who are about to be betrayed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/fidelity-n-a-virtue-peculiar-to-those-who-are-about-to-be-betrayed/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [Diamonds have an image of purity and light. They are given as a pledge of love and worn as a symbol of commitment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-singer/diamonds-have-an-image-of-purity-and-light-they-are-given-as-a-pledge/) [Peter Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-singer/) > [God has given no pledge which He will not redeem, and encouraged no hope which He will not fulfill.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/god-has-given-no-pledge-which-he-will-not-redeem-and-encouraged-no/) [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) > [FRIENDSHIP is an unwritten promise, not given by pledge or any written document, instead its a promise based on VAT Value and Trust that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reymon-iglesia/friendship-is-an-unwritten-promise-not-given-by-pledge-or-any-written/) [Reymon Iglesia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reymon-iglesia/) > [Friendship is a promise spoken by the heart is not given by pledge nor written on paper but promise renewed every time friends keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/friendship-is-a-promise-spoken-by-the-heart-is-not-given-by-pledge/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [ The meeting \[in San Antonio of the National Women's Political Caucus\] featured a cattle show at which a herd of Democratic candidates- Glenn, Cranston,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-seligman/the-meeting-in-san-antonio-of-the-national-women-s-political-caucus/) [Daniel Seligman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-seligman/) > [The Founding Fathers believed that our Creator gave us certain inalienable rights. 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I would know you even if I were mad. I will know you always,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-a-lynn/i-would-know-you-from-the-heart-of-the-sun-i-would-know-you-even-if-i/) [Elizabeth A. Lynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-a-lynn/) > [We must not imitate the externals of nature with so much fidelity that the picture fails to evoke that wonderful teasing recurrence of emotion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-carlson/we-must-not-imitate-the-externals-of-nature-with-so-much-fidelity/) [John F. 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