--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A verbal contract isn't worth the paper…" description: "\"A verbal contract isn't worth the paper it's written on.\" — Samuel Goldwyn" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0fb/samuel-goldwyn-3156_contract_a-verbal-contract-isn-t-worth-the-paper_2543987.jpg" --- # A verbal contract isn't worth the paper it's written on. ![“A verbal contract isn't worth the paper it's written on.” quote by Samuel Goldwyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0fb/samuel-goldwyn-3156_contract_a-verbal-contract-isn-t-worth-the-paper_2543987.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0fb/samuel-goldwyn-3156_contract_a-verbal-contract-isn-t-worth-the-paper_2543987.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0fb/samuel-goldwyn-3156_contract_a-verbal-contract-isn-t-worth-the-paper_2543987.jpg) > “A verbal contract isn't worth the paper it's written on.” [Samuel Goldwyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-goldwyn/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. States that verbal agreements lack enforceable value compared to written contracts, emphasizing the unreliability of spoken promises **In simple terms:** Verbal promises are unreliable without written proof Key Takeaway Document agreements formally Themes trust legal reliability Mood pragmatic cautious Type business legal When to use this quote - business negotiations - legal advice - project planning - team management Key Concepts contract law business ethics Questions to Reflect On - When should you rely on a handshake? - How to protect yourself without paperwork? A Different Perspective Verbal agreements can be honored in trustful relationships ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Contract](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contract/) [Contract Isn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contract-isn-1458672/) [Paper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paper/) [Paper Written](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paper-written-385660/) [Verbal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/verbal/) [Verbal Contract](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/verbal-contract-1458671/) [Written](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/written/) ## Related quotes > [“A verbal contract is worth about as much as the paper it's written on.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-goldwyn/a-verbal-contract-is-worth-about-as-much-as-the-paper-it-s-written-on/) [Samuel Goldwyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-goldwyn/) > [“An oral contract isn't worth the paper it's written on.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-goldwyn-jr/an-oral-contract-isn-t-worth-the-paper-it-s-written-on/) [Sam Goldwyn Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-goldwyn-jr/) > [“Never do a verbal contract with a Snake ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niedria-dionne-kenny/never-do-a-verbal-contract-with-a-snake/) [Niedria Dionne Kenny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niedria-dionne-kenny/) > [“When you speak and affirm, you are creating a verbal contract with yourself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/when-you-speak-and-affirm-you-are-creating-a-verbal-contract-with/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [“An' you told him what I said about a verbal contract not being worth the paper it's printed on?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/an-you-told-him-what-i-said-about-a-verbal-contract-not-being-worth/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“It's a fiendishly difficult thing to do because paper that has been written on doesn't burn easily.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhael-bulgakov/it-s-a-fiendishly-difficult-thing-to-do-because-paper-that-has-been/) [Mikhael Bulgakov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhael-bulgakov/) > [“Never make a verbal contract with a snake. Always put it in Venom.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niedria-dionne-kenny-kenny/never-make-a-verbal-contract-with-a-snake-always-put-it-in-venom/) [Niedria Dionne Kenny Kenny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niedria-dionne-kenny-kenny/) > [“To lovers out there ... A relationship is verbal contract between two people. Like any contract there are clauses, terms and conditions. If you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/de-philosopher-dj-kyos/to-lovers-out-there-a-relationship-is-verbal-contract-between-two/) [De philosopher DJ Kyos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/de-philosopher-dj-kyos/) > [“Between George W. Bush and Barack Obama, the US Constitution is no longer worth the paper it's written on.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-templet/between-george-w-bush-and-barack-obama-the-us-constitution-is-no/) [Michel Templet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-templet/) > [“Dear Jim." The writing grew suddenly blurred and misty. And she had lost him again--had lost him again! At the sight of the familiar…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-lillian-voynich/dear-jim-the-writing-grew-suddenly-blurred-and-misty-and-she-had-lost/) [Ethel Lillian Voynich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-lillian-voynich/) > [“If left unexecuted, even the greatest competitive strategies are not worth the paper on which they were written.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-lowitt/if-left-unexecuted-even-the-greatest-competitive-strategies-are-not/) [Eric Lowitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-lowitt/) > [Of course a politician's promise isn't worth the paper it's written on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-pearce/of-course-a-politician-s-promise-isn-t-worth-the-paper-it-s-written-on/) [Russell Pearce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-pearce/) > [Now everybody who knows anything at all knows perfectly well that even a business letter does not deserve the paper on which it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-hallowell-abbott/now-everybody-who-knows-anything-at-all-knows-perfectly-well-that/) [Eleanor Hallowell Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-hallowell-abbott/) > [It is not worth the paper it is written on unless it is backed by the kind of force that will make the other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yitzhak-rabin/it-is-not-worth-the-paper-it-is-written-on-unless-it-is-backed-by-the/) [Yitzhak Rabin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yitzhak-rabin/) > [In 2008, Bitcoin was mysteriously introduced to the world in an obscure, technical paper written under the pseudonym Satoshi Nakamoto. By late 2013, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-hanke/in-2008-bitcoin-was-mysteriously-introduced-to-the-world-in-an/) [Steve Hanke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-hanke/) ## More by Samuel Goldwyn > [If I were in this business only for the business, I wouldn't be in this business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-goldwyn/if-i-were-in-this-business-only-for-the-business-i-wouldn-t-be-in/) [Samuel Goldwyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-goldwyn/) > [If I look confused it is because I am thinking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-goldwyn/if-i-look-confused-it-is-because-i-am-thinking/) [Samuel Goldwyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-goldwyn/) > [Don't worry about the war. It's all over but the shooting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-goldwyn/don-t-worry-about-the-war-it-s-all-over-but-the-shooting/) [Samuel Goldwyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-goldwyn/) > [Having integrity...means being completely true to what is inside you - to what you know is right...what you feel you must do, regardless of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-goldwyn/having-integrity-means-being-completely-true-to-what-is-inside-you-to/) [Samuel Goldwyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-goldwyn/) > [For your information, I would like to ask a question.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-goldwyn/for-your-information-i-would-like-to-ask-a-question/) [Samuel Goldwyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-goldwyn/) > [Don't pay any attention to the critics - don't even ignore them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-goldwyn/don-t-pay-any-attention-to-the-critics-don-t-even-ignore-them/) [Samuel Goldwyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-goldwyn/) > [I never liked you, and I always will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-goldwyn/i-never-liked-you-and-i-always-will/) [Samuel Goldwyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-goldwyn/) > [They stayed away in droves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-goldwyn/they-stayed-away-in-droves/) [Samuel Goldwyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-goldwyn/) > [Television has raised writing to a new low.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-goldwyn/television-has-raised-writing-to-a-new-low/) [Samuel Goldwyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-goldwyn/) > [I never put on a pair of shoes until I've worn them at least five years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-goldwyn/i-never-put-on-a-pair-of-shoes-until-i-ve-worn-them-at-least-five/) [Samuel Goldwyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-goldwyn/) > [Include me out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-goldwyn/include-me-out/) [Samuel Goldwyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-goldwyn/) > [ \[when asked by his secretary if she should destroy all files that were over ten years old\] Yes, but keep copies. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-goldwyn/when-asked-by-his-secretary-if-she-should-destroy-all-files-that-were/) [Samuel Goldwyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-goldwyn/) > [A Hospital isn't any place to end up being sick.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-goldwyn/a-hospital-isn-t-any-place-to-end-up-being-sick/) [Samuel Goldwyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-goldwyn/) > [Too caustic? To hell with the costs, we'll make the picture anyway.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-goldwyn/too-caustic-to-hell-with-the-costs-we-ll-make-the-picture-anyway/) [Samuel Goldwyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-goldwyn/) > [Modern dancing is old fashioned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-goldwyn/modern-dancing-is-old-fashioned/) [Samuel Goldwyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-goldwyn/) [Explore all 138 Samuel Goldwyn quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-goldwyn/) ## More Contract quotes > [I am very convinced that I did not contract Ebola in the isolation unit, because our process is so safe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kent-brantly/i-am-very-convinced-that-i-did-not-contract-ebola-in-the-isolation/) [Kent Brantly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kent-brantly/) > [A contract is an ask game, and if it asks for an hour, and I submit to an hour, then it's an hour. When…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-berry/a-contract-is-an-ask-game-and-if-it-asks-for-an-hour-and-i-submit-to/) [Chuck Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-berry/) > [I love Scott Coker and I love Bellator and I love what we have built together and it's a little uneasy to think that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chandler/i-love-scott-coker-and-i-love-bellator-and-i-love-what-we-have-built/) [Michael Chandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chandler/) > [I signed my first book contract without paying much attention to what it said. I didn't know at the time that the book would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-land/i-signed-my-first-book-contract-without-paying-much-attention-to-what/) [Stephanie Land](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-land/) > [I work seriously with complete integrity. I never, never, never have offered a part to anyone who didn't deserve it, and I've never not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-toback/i-work-seriously-with-complete-integrity-i-never-never-never-have/) [James Toback](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-toback/) > [Nowadays, in the contract that actors sign, you have to agree that you're going to do a certain amount of publicity-the hard part they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-bridges/nowadays-in-the-contract-that-actors-sign-you-have-to-agree-that-you/) [Jeff Bridges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-bridges/) > [Society is indeed a contract. It is a partnership in all science; a partnership in all art; a partnership in every virtue, and in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/society-is-indeed-a-contract-it-is-a-partnership-in-all-science-a/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [“A prisoner is imprisoned by the crime that he has committed. A jailer is imprisoned — in the very same prison — by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/a-prisoner-is-imprisoned-by-the-crime-that-he-has-committed-a-jailer/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [“When we are quiet and still we contract and settle.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/when-we-are-quiet-and-still-we-contract-and-settle/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [When you sign a contract, that's your deal. Everyone has different deals anyway.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-duggan/when-you-sign-a-contract-that-s-your-deal-everyone-has-different/) [Toni Duggan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-duggan/) > [When you need to renew your contract, you must demonstrate why they are renewing your contract.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manuel-pellegrini/when-you-need-to-renew-your-contract-you-must-demonstrate-why-they/) [Manuel Pellegrini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manuel-pellegrini/) > [“You don't know with who you are having to deal with... you just sign the contract to die”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deyth-banger/you-don-t-know-with-who-you-are-having-to-deal-with-you-just-sign-the/) [Deyth Banger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deyth-banger/) > [Even if you have a contract you can be sold.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teemu-pukki/even-if-you-have-a-contract-you-can-be-sold/) [Teemu Pukki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teemu-pukki/) > [I worked in three local news markets and in every single one of them, they said: 'You're a lousy anchor. We would love to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-vargas/i-worked-in-three-local-news-markets-and-in-every-single-one-of-them/) [Elizabeth Vargas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-vargas/) > [A group is as healthy as its 'social contract' is clear; a congregation as faithful as its covenant is mutually understood; a pastor as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-group-is-as-healthy-as-its-social-contract-is-clear-a-congregation/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 518 Contract quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contract/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A verbal contract isn't worth the paper it's written on.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Samuel Goldwyn" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-goldwyn/a-verbal-contract-isn-t-worth-the-paper-it-s-written-on/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Contract" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-goldwyn/a-verbal-contract-isn-t-worth-the-paper-it-s-written-on/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0fb/samuel-goldwyn-3156_contract_a-verbal-contract-isn-t-worth-the-paper_2543987.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0fb/samuel-goldwyn-3156_contract_a-verbal-contract-isn-t-worth-the-paper_2543987.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0fb/samuel-goldwyn-3156_contract_a-verbal-contract-isn-t-worth-the-paper_2543987.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“A verbal contract isn't worth the paper it's written on.” — Samuel Goldwyn", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Samuel Goldwyn", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-goldwyn/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "A verbal contract isn't worth the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-goldwyn/a-verbal-contract-isn-t-worth-the-paper-it-s-written-on/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-goldwyn/a-verbal-contract-isn-t-worth-the-paper-it-s-written-on/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```