--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When a man takes an oath... he's holding…" description: "\"When a man takes an oath... he's holding his own self in his own hands. Like water.\" — Robert Bolt" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/956/robert-bolt-21488_breaking-promises_when-a-man-takes-an-oath-he-s-holding-hi_84729.jpg" --- # When a man takes an oath... he's holding his own self in… ![“When a man takes an oath... he's holding his own self in his own hands. Like water.” quote by Robert Bolt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/956/robert-bolt-21488_breaking-promises_when-a-man-takes-an-oath-he-s-holding-hi_84729.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/956/robert-bolt-21488_breaking-promises_when-a-man-takes-an-oath-he-s-holding-hi_84729.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/956/robert-bolt-21488_breaking-promises_when-a-man-takes-an-oath-he-s-holding-hi_84729.jpg) > “When a man takes an oath... he's holding his own self in his own hands. Like water.” [Robert Bolt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-bolt/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. An oath binds a person to their own integrity, making their fate fluid and self‑determined like water. **In simple terms:** Self‑binding oath creates personal accountability. Key Takeaway Commitments shape destiny. Themes Responsibility Self‑control Integrity Metaphor Agency Mood Resolute Contemplative Empowering Type aphilosophical Motivational Metaphorical When to use this quote - Legal testimony - Personal vows - Ritual pledges - Leadership promises - Therapeutic affirmations Key Concepts Oath Self‑governance Fluidity Practical Applications - Ethics training - Motivational speaking Questions to Reflect On - What does it mean to hold yourself accountable? - How does a promise influence your actions? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Breaking promises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/breaking-promises/) [Broken promises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/broken-promises/) [Keeping promises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/keeping-promises/) [Kept promises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kept-promises/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Oath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oath/) [Seasons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seasons/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Water](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/water/) ## Related quotes > [If you like your health care plan, you can keep your health care plan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/if-you-like-your-health-care-plan-you-can-keep-your-health-care-plan/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Thou oughtest to be nice, even to Superstition, in keeping thy Promises; and therefore thou shouldst be equally cautious in making them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-fuller/thou-oughtest-to-be-nice-even-to-superstition-in-keeping-thy-promises/) [Thomas Fuller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-fuller/) > [Promises are the uniquely human way of ordering the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-arendt/promises-are-the-uniquely-human-way-of-ordering-the-future/) [Hannah Arendt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-arendt/) > [Promises may get thee friends, but non-performance will turn them into enemies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/promises-may-get-thee-friends-but-non-performance-will-turn-them-into/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Breach of promise is a base surrender of truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/breach-of-promise-is-a-base-surrender-of-truth/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Never trust a man when he's in love, drunk, or running for office.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-maclaine/never-trust-a-man-when-he-s-in-love-drunk-or-running-for-office/) [Shirley MacLaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-maclaine/) > [Martial art is a form of expression, an expression from your inner self to your hands and legs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donnie-yen/martial-art-is-a-form-of-expression-an-expression-from-your-inner/) [Donnie Yen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donnie-yen/) > [If my attention is wandering, there is somewhere it wants to go, so obviously it does not want to be where I am holding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-prather/if-my-attention-is-wandering-there-is-somewhere-it-wants-to-go-so/) [Hugh Prather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-prather/) > [For some people there is some one you refuse to let go of , that one person from your past that you just keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/for-some-people-there-is-some-one-you-refuse-to-let-go-of-that-one/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Once Donald Trump takes the oath of office as president of the United States, the Emoluments Clause of the Constitution makes it clear that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-todd/once-donald-trump-takes-the-oath-of-office-as-president-of-the-united/) [Chuck Todd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-todd/) > [I also wish that the Pledge of Allegiance were directed at the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, as it is when the President…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-also-wish-that-the-pledge-of-allegiance-were-directed-at-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The person who takes the oath of office in the next four months will shape not just the next four years, but the next…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rahm-emanuel/the-person-who-takes-the-oath-of-office-in-the-next-four-months-will/) [Rahm Emanuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rahm-emanuel/) > [A candidate is not going to suddenly change once they get into office. Just the opposite, in fact. Because the minute that individual takes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-obama/a-candidate-is-not-going-to-suddenly-change-once-they-get-into-office/) [Michelle Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-obama/) > [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/) > [America, not Keith Ellison, decides what book a congressman takes his oath on,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-prager/america-not-keith-ellison-decides-what-book-a-congressman-takes-his/) [Dennis Prager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-prager/) ## More by Robert Bolt > [If we lived in a State where virtue was profitable, common sense would make us good, and greed would make us saintly. And we'd…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-bolt/if-we-lived-in-a-state-where-virtue-was-profitable-common-sense-would/) [Robert Bolt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-bolt/) > [“My master Thomas More would give anything to anyone. Some say that’s good and some say that’s bad, but I say he can’t help…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-bolt/my-master-thomas-more-would-give-anything-to-anyone-some-say-that-s/) [Robert Bolt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-bolt/) > [“More Yes. What would you do? Cut a great road through the law to get after the Devil? Roper I’d cut down every law…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-bolt/more-yes-what-would-you-do-cut-a-great-road-through-the-law-to-get/) [Robert Bolt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-bolt/) > [“Have patience, Margaret, and trouble not thyself. Death comes for us all; even at our birth—death does but stand aside a little. And every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-bolt/have-patience-margaret-and-trouble-not-thyself-death-comes-for-us-all/) [Robert Bolt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-bolt/) > [“The nobility of England would have snored through the Sermon on the Mount. But you'll labor like scholars over a bulldog's pedigree.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-bolt/the-nobility-of-england-would-have-snored-through-the-sermon-on-the/) [Robert Bolt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-bolt/) > [ This account of him \[Thomas More\] developed as I wrote: what first attracted me was a person who could not be accused of any… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-bolt/this-account-of-him-thomas-more-developed-as-i-wrote-what-first/) [Robert Bolt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-bolt/) > [Doin' nothing's a dangerous occupation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-bolt/doin-nothing-s-a-dangerous-occupation/) [Robert Bolt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-bolt/) > [“The currents and eddies of right and wrong, which you find such plain sailing, I can't navigate. I'm no voyager. But in the thickets…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-bolt/the-currents-and-eddies-of-right-and-wrong-which-you-find-such-plain/) [Robert Bolt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-bolt/) > [“RICH I’m lamenting. I’ve lost my innocence. CROMWELL You lost that some time ago. If you’ve only just noticed, it can’t have been very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-bolt/rich-i-m-lamenting-i-ve-lost-my-innocence-cromwell-you-lost-that-some/) [Robert Bolt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-bolt/) > [I'm breathing . . . are you breathing too? It's nice, isn't it?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-bolt/i-m-breathing-are-you-breathing-too-it-s-nice-isn-t-it/) [Robert Bolt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-bolt/) > [Even at our birth, death does but stand aside a little. And every day he looks toward us and muses somewhat to himself whether…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-bolt/even-at-our-birth-death-does-but-stand-aside-a-little-and-every-day/) [Robert Bolt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-bolt/) > [Some men think the Earth is round, others think it flat; it is a matter capable of question. But, if it is flat, will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-bolt/some-men-think-the-earth-is-round-others-think-it-flat-it-is-a-matter/) [Robert Bolt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-bolt/) > [“Lord, grant us rest tonight, and if we must be wakeful, cheerful.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-bolt/lord-grant-us-rest-tonight-and-if-we-must-be-wakeful-cheerful/) [Robert Bolt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-bolt/) > [“Alice More: As for understanding, I understand that you are the best man that I ever met, or am likely to; And, if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-bolt/alice-more-as-for-understanding-i-understand-that-you-are-the-best/) [Robert Bolt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-bolt/) > [Good marriages are made in heaven. Or some such place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-bolt/good-marriages-are-made-in-heaven-or-some-such-place/) [Robert Bolt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-bolt/) [Explore all 29 Robert Bolt quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-bolt/) ## More Breaking promises quotes > [There's something about taking a plow and breaking new ground. It gives you energy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-kesey/there-s-something-about-taking-a-plow-and-breaking-new-ground-it/) [Ken Kesey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-kesey/) > [Senator Hillary Clinton is attacking President Bush for breaking his campaign promise to cut carbon dioxide emissions, saying a promise made, a promise broken.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-kilborn/senator-hillary-clinton-is-attacking-president-bush-for-breaking-his/) [Craig Kilborn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-kilborn/) > [Congress seems to thrive on breaking promises and passing unfunded mandates down to local government. It's really just a matter of priorities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jared-polis/congress-seems-to-thrive-on-breaking-promises-and-passing-unfunded/) [Jared Polis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jared-polis/) > [All I wanted to do was ride skateboards - I wanted to be a professional skateboarder. But I had this problem. I kept breaking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/travis-barker/all-i-wanted-to-do-was-ride-skateboards-i-wanted-to-be-a-professional/) [Travis Barker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/travis-barker/) > [My show was revolutionary, ground-breaking. When I came on the scene, people were not doing a thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-stern/my-show-was-revolutionary-ground-breaking-when-i-came-on-the-scene/) [Howard Stern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-stern/) > [The stones tear like flesh, rather than breaking. Although what happens is violent, it is a violence that is in stone. A tear is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-goldsworthy/the-stones-tear-like-flesh-rather-than-breaking-although-what-happens/) [Andy Goldsworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-goldsworthy/) > [Promises may get thee friends, but non-performance will turn them into enemies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/promises-may-get-thee-friends-but-non-performance-will-turn-them-into/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [I'm sorry, for breaking our promises.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meicee/i-m-sorry-for-breaking-our-promises/) Meicee > [Promises are the uniquely human way of ordering the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-arendt/promises-are-the-uniquely-human-way-of-ordering-the-future/) [Hannah Arendt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-arendt/) > [Broken vows are like broken mirrors. They leave those who held to them bleeding and staring at fractured images of themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-paul-evans/broken-vows-are-like-broken-mirrors-they-leave-those-who-held-to-them/) [Richard Paul Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-paul-evans/) > [I would rather be accused of breaking precedents than breaking promises.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/i-would-rather-be-accused-of-breaking-precedents-than-breaking/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [Thou oughtest to be nice, even to Superstition, in keeping thy Promises; and therefore thou shouldst be equally cautious in making them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-fuller/thou-oughtest-to-be-nice-even-to-superstition-in-keeping-thy-promises/) [Thomas Fuller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-fuller/) > [“Sometimes, there’s nothing wrong with breaking promises, though. You can’t go through life without breaking promises. You need to break a few rules as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-jones/sometimes-there-s-nothing-wrong-with-breaking-promises-though-you-can/) [Grace Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-jones/) > [Six Things Which Weaken The Relations: 1) Misbehaving 2) Ignoring 3) Lying 4) Breaking Promises 5) Avoiding Contact 6) Doubting Six Things Which Strengthen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ab/six-things-which-weaken-the-relations-1-misbehaving-2-ignoring-3/) AB > [Never trust a man when he's in love, drunk, or running for office.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-maclaine/never-trust-a-man-when-he-s-in-love-drunk-or-running-for-office/) [Shirley MacLaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-maclaine/) [Browse all 37 Breaking promises quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/breaking-promises/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When a man takes an oath... he's holding his own self in his own hands. 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