I am like a man so busy in letting rooms in one end of his house, that he can't stop to put out the fire that is burning the other.
Abraham LincolnRead
Bad promises are better broken than kept.
Interpretation
What this quote means
It's sometimes better to break a promise than to fulfill a bad one.
This quote by Abraham Lincoln suggests that not all promises are worth keeping. When a promise leads to negative outcomes or is based on unrealistic expectations, it may be more prudent to break it rather than adhere to it for the sake of integrity. This reflects a deeper understanding that ethics and responsibilities must be measured against the context and potential consequences of our commitments.
Themes
PromisesIntegrityEthicsConsequencesDecision-Making
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about ethical dilemmas in business, one could use this quote to highlight the importance of valuing ethical outcomes over blind commitment.
More from Abraham Lincoln
All quotes βSir, my concern is not whether God is on our side; my greatest concern is to be on God's side, for God is always right.
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Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe.
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How many legs does a dog have if you call the tail a leg? Four. Calling a tail a leg doesn't make it a leg.
Abraham LincolnRead
For it has been said, all that a man hath will he give for his life; and while all contribute of their substance the soldier puts his life at stake, and often yields it up in his country's cause. The highest merit, then is due to the soldier.
Abraham LincolnRead
And having thus chosen our course, without guile, and with pure purpose, let us renew our trust in God, and go forward without fear, and with manly hearts.
Abraham LincolnRead
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