The reason why the Cardinal [Mazarin] deferred so long to grant the favors he had promised, was because he was persuaded that hope was much more capable of keeping men to their duty than gratitude.
[La raison pourquoi le Cardinal différoit tant à accorder les grâces qu’il avoit promises, c’est qu’il étoit persuadé que l’espérance est bien plus capable de retenir les hommes dans le devoir que non pas la reconnoissance.]
Jean Racine (1639-1699) French dramatist
Fragments Historiques [tr. Bund/Friswell (1871)]
(Source)
(Source (French)).
This phrase is quoted by commenters on La Rochefoucauld in conjunction with his Maxim 38.
Quotations about:
promises
Note not all quotations have been tagged, so Search may find additional quotes on this topic.
You may seek comfort at the feet of false leaders, who like medicine doctors beat drums to ward off evil spirits. You may listen to false leaders who tell you that there is an easy way — that all you have to do is to elect them and thereafter relax in a tax-free paradise, the political equivalent of sending 10¢ to cover the cost of postage. You may, fearing to face the facts squarely, be distracted by phony issues that have no bearing upon the life-or-death controversy of our time. But deluded you run the risk of being beguiled to destruction, for there is no easy way.
My mistress says she’d wed with me
If Jove himself had sought her;
She says — but write what woman says
In winds and running water.
[Nulli se dicit mulier mea nubere malle
quam mihi, non si se Iuppiter ipse petat.
Dicit: sed mulier cupido quod dicit amanti
in vento et rapida scribere oportet aqua.]Catullus (c. 84 BC – c. 54 BC) Latin poet [Gaius Valerius Catullus]
Carmina # 70 [tr. Stewart (1915)]
(Source)
While an impolitic impugning of women's promises, compare to Carmina 64 for a much more fiery condemnation of vows from men.
(Source (Latin)). Alternate translations:My nymph averr'd, that mine alone
She'd be, and Jove himself despise;
Tho' courted to partake his throne,
And reign the empress of the skies!
Thus did the flatt'rer fondly swear;
But what, alas, are women's vows?
Fit to be written but on air,
Or on the stream that swiftly flows!
[tr. Nott (1795), # 67]My Fair says, she no spouse but me
Would wed, though Jove himself were he.
She says it: But I deem
That what the fair to lovers swear
Should be inscribed upon the air
Or in the running stream.
[tr. Lamb (1821), # 71]My Mistress tells me oft, that she
Would not prefer Great Jove to me.
She tells me: -- but I know full well
What women eager lovers tell
Ought to be written on the breeze,
The running streams, and flowing seas.
[tr. Creasy (1843)]My mistress says, there's not a man
Of all the many swains she knows,
She'd rather wed than me, not one
Though Jove himself were to propose.
She says so; -- but what woman says
To him who fancies he has caught her,
'Tis only fit it should be writ
In air or in the running water.
[tr. T. Martin (1861)]Lesbia declares she'd marry none but me,
Not even Jove, should he her wooer be;
She says so: but on wind and rapid wave
A woman's troth to her fond swain engrave.
[tr. Cranstoun (1867)]Saith my lady to me, no man shall wed me, but only
Thou; no other if e'en Jove should approach me to woo;
Yea; but a woman's words, when a lover fondly desireth,
Limn them on ebbing floods, write on a wintery gale.
[tr. Ellis (1871)]Never, my woman oft says, with any of men will she mate be,
Save wi' my own very self, ask her though Jupiter deign!
Says she: but womanly words that are spoken to desireful lover
Ought to be written on wind or upon water that runs.
[tr. Burton (1893)]My mistress vowed she'd never wed
Another, not if Jove e'en sought her;
But women's oaths, 'tis ever said,
Are writ in wind and running water.
[tr. Harvey (1893)]No one, says my lady, would she rather wed than myself, not even if Jupiter himself sought her. Thus she says! but what a woman says to a desirous lover ought fitly to be written on the breezes and in running waters.
[tr. Smithers (1894)]The woman I love says that there is no one whom she would rather marry than me, not if Jupiter himself were to woo her. Says -- but what a woman says to her ardent lover should be written in wind and running water.
[tr. Warre Cornish (1904)]My mistress says no man would she rather marry than me, not even were Jove himself to seek her hand. These are her words: but what a woman says to her eager lover may be writ on the winds and in running water.
[tr. Stuttaford (1912)]My love declares there's none she'd rather
Wed than me, not Jove the father;
What woman says to men that court her
Is writ on wind or running water.
[tr. Symons-Jeune (1923)]None else but me, my lady vows 'tis true,
None else for her, though Jove himself should sue;
She vows, a woman to her love: grave
Such words upon the wind and fleeting wave!
[tr. MacNaghten (1925)]"Were Jupiter himself to come
And ask me for his bride,
I would not take him, dear" -- she cries --
"Nor leave my darling's side."
So she pretends: but women's vows
To eager lovers made
Are as unstable as a word
In wind or water graved.
[tr. Wright (1926)]My woman says that she would rather wear the wedding-veil for me
than anyone, even if Jupiter himself came storming after her;
that's what she says, but when a woman talks to a hungry, ravenous lover,
her words should be written upon the wind and engraved in rapid waters.
[tr. Gregory (1931)]My woman says there is no one whom she'd rather
marry than me, not even Jupiter, if he came courting.
That's what she says -- but what a woman says to a passionate lover
ought to be scribbled on wind, on running water.
[tr. C. Martin (1979)]My girl says she’d rather marry no one but me,
not if Jupiter himself were to ask her.
She says: but what a girl says to her eager lover,
should be written on the wind and in running water.
[tr. Kline (2001)]My woman declares there's no one she'd sooner marry
than me, not even were Jove himself to propose.
She declares -- but a woman's words to her eager lover
should be written on running water, on the wind.
[tr. Green (2005)]My woman says that she prefers to be married to no one
but me, not even if Jupiter himself should seek her.
She says: but what a woman says to her passionate lover,
she ought to write on the wind and swift-flowing water.
[tr. Wikibooks (2017)]My woman says that she prefers to marry no one
over me, not even if Jupiter himself should seek her.
She says (these things), but what a woman says to her desirous lover
is fitting to write on the wind and on fast-flowing water.
[tr. Wikisource (2018)]My woman says there’s nobody she prefers to marry
than me -- not even if Jupiter himself wooed her,
She says. But what a woman says to a burning lover
One should scribble in the breeze and in the fast-flowing water.
[tr. Benn (2021)]
Then let no woman hence in man believe,
Or think a lover speaks but to deceive.
He, while ungratified desire is high,
Shrinks from no oath, no promise will deny;
Soon as his lust is satiate with its prize,
He spurns his vows and perjury’s curse defies.
[Nunc iam nulla viro iuranti femina credat,
nulla viri speret sermones esse fideles;
quis dum aliquid cupiens animus praegestit apisci,
nil metuunt iurare, nihil promittere parcunt:
sed simul ac cupidae mentis satiata libido est,
dicta nihil metuere, nihil periuria curant.]Catullus (c. 84 BC – c. 54 BC) Latin poet [Gaius Valerius Catullus]
Carmina # 64 “The Nuptuals of Peleus and Thetis,” ll. 144-149 [tr. Lamb (1821)]
(Source)
Ariadne lamenting Theseus' faithlessness.
(Source (Latin)). Alternate translations:Hear this, and wisdom learn, ye witless fair!
Ne'er let false man with empty oaths deceive,
No protestations of the sex believe!
Is there a wish their ardent souls would gain;
they swear, they promise, and at length obtain;
The wish obtain'd, they fearless break their word,
Nor plighted faith, nor solemn vows regard.
[tr. Nott (1795), # 61; ll. 173ff.]Henceforth let woman; never trust the oaths that man shall make,
Nor ever more his honeyed speech within her bosom take!
While yet the fire of his desire is hot within his breast,
What will he not to woman swear, to heav'n what not protest?
But let her in an evil hour resign her maiden trust,
And yield the blossom of her youth to sate his selfish lust,
Then what recks he of lavish oath, or vow, or whisper'd pray'r?
He triumphs in his perjuries, and spurns at her despair.
[tr. T. Martin (1861)]Henceforth let never woman trust an oath than man shall swear,
Nor count the tender speeches true his lying lips declare:
For when with lusting soul he yearns some object to enjoy,
No oath, no promise then he deems too sacred to employ;
But when his soul is sated, and his burning passion dies,
He fears to break no plighted vows, cares nought for perjuries.
[tr. Cranstoun (1867)]Let not a woman trust, since that first treason, a lover's
Desperate oath, none hope true lover's promise is earnest.
They, while fondly to win their amorous humour essayeth,
Fear no covetous oath, all false free promises heed not;
They if once lewd pleasure attain unruly possession,
Lo they fear not promise, of oath or perjury reck not.
[tr. Ellis (1871)]Now, let woman no more trust her to man when he sweareth,
Ne'er let her hope to find or truth or faith in his pleadings,
Who when lustful thought forelooks to somewhat attaining,
Never an oath they fear, shall spare no promise to promise.
Yet no sooner they sate all lewdness and lecherous fancy,
Nothing remember of words and reck they naught of fore-swearing.
[tr. Burton (1893)]Now, now, let no woman give credence to man's oath, let none hope for faithful vows from mankind; for while their eager desire strives for its end, nothing fear they to swear, nothing of promises forbear they: but instantly their lusting thoughts are satiate with lewdness, nothing of speech they remember, nothing of perjuries care.
[tr. Smithers (1894)]Henceforth let no woman believe a man's oath, let none believe that a man's speeches can be trustworthy. They, while their mind desires something and longs eagerly to gain it, nothing fear to swear, nothing spare to promise; but as soon as the lust of their greedy mind is satisfied, they fear not then their words, they heed not their perjuries.
[tr. Warre Cornish (1904)]Hereafter let; no woman trust man's promises, or hope for faithful words; for when they wish to attain their desires, there is nothing they will not swear, no promise do they scruple to make: but once their desires have been satisfied, they fear no broken words and care nothing for their perjuries.
[tr. Stuttaford (1912)]Never let maid believe a lover's oath;
Nor hope a man be faithful to his troth;
Long as men's hearts are spurred by keen desire,
No oath they shrink from and no promise spare;
Soon as their sated lust begins to tire
No oath they heed and nought for falsehood care.
[tr. Symons-Jeune (1923)]Henceforth, no woman trust the oath of man,
No woman dream the word of man is true:
They, whensoe'er they lust for anything,
Swear every oath and every promise make,
But, when their eager lust is satisfied,
Nor reck of oaths nor promises regard.
[tr. MacNaghten (1925)]Henceforth let never listening maid believe
Protesting man! When their false hearts conceive
The selfish wish, to all but pleasure blind,
No words they spare, no oaths unuttered leave.
But when possession cloys their pampered mind,
No care have they for oaths, no words their honour bind.
[tr. Wright (1926)]From this hour
may no woman believe what men say, for men (minds set upon a single end) will promise everything,
but once the shrewd mind satisfies its passion, it plunges forward (the broken promise merely words that trail behind tall bravery).
[tr. Gregory (1931)]Let no woman ever believe any oath that a man swears,
or ever expect him to keep faith with his fine speeches!
When they want something, when they are anxious to get it,
they take oaths without fear, and pour out promises freely;
but just as soon as their hot desire is sated,
none of their lies & deceptions ever disturb them.
[tr. C. Martin (1979)]From now on let no woman believe a man's sworn promises.
From now on let no woman hope a man's talk is true.
So long as their desiring minds are eager to get something,
they swear to anything. No promise do they spare.
But as soon as the lust in their desirous intent is gratified,
they remember nothing they said, they care nothing for their lies.
[tr. Banks (1997)]Now, no woman should believe a man’s pledges,
or believe there’s any truth in a man’s words:
when their minds are intent on their desire,
they have no fear of oaths, don’t spare their promises:
but as soon as the lust of their eager mind is slaked
they fear no words, they care nothing for perjury.
[tr. Kline (2001)]Henceforth let no woman trust a man's sworn promise,
or hope that he'll ever be true to his given word,
for as long as his lustful heart is bent on possession
he'll shrink from no oath, stop short at no promises,
but the moment hte urge of his ardent mind is sated
he forgets all he's said, breaks oaths without a tremor.
[tr. Green (2005)]Now already let no woman trust a man swearing,
let none hope that the speeches of man are faithful,
for whom while the desiring mind is eager to grasp something,
They fear to swear nothing, they spare to promise nothing.
But as soon as the lust of the desiring mind has been satisfied,
They feared the words as nothing, they care for the false oaths not at all.
[tr. Wikisource (2018)]
There are two major kinds of promises in politics: the promises made by candidates to the voters and the promises made by the candidates to persons and groups able to deliver the vote. Promises falling into the latter category are loosely called “patronage,” and promises falling into the former category are most frequently called “lies.”
Richard Claxton "Dick" Gregory (1932-2017) American activist, social critic, writer, comedian
Dick Gregory’s Political Primer (1972)
Man cannot live without hope. If it is not engendered by his own convictions and desires, it can easily be fired from without, and by the most meretricious and empty of promises.
Eleanor Roosevelt (1884–1962) First Lady of the US (1933–1945), politician, diplomat, activist
Essay (1961-04), “What Has Happened to the American Dream?” Atlantic Monthly
(Source)
(Source (Alternate)). On the effectiveness of Soviet propaganda in the Third World.
In the midst of great joy, do not promise anyone anything. In the midst of great anger, do not answer anyone’s letter.
Proverbs, Sayings, and Adages
Chinese proverb
