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It is not the oath that makes us believe the man, but the man the oath.
Aeschylus
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Interpretation

What this quote means

A person's character is more important than their promises.

This quote emphasizes that the integrity and credibility of an individual are what truly lend weight to their commitments or promises. Rather than believing in an oath or promise solely based on its existence, we are encouraged to evaluate the character of the person making the promise to assess its reliability.

Themes

OathBeliefCharacterIntegrityTrust

In practice

Example use cases

In a discussion about leadership qualities, this quote could highlight the importance of personal integrity.

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A god implants in mortal guilt whenever he wants utterly to confound a house.
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In war, truth is the first casualty.
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