Undertake not what you cannot perform, but be careful to keep your promise. — Alexander Dumas
—What lingers after this line?
Accountability and Responsibility
This quote stresses the importance of only committing to tasks or promises that you are sure you can fulfill. It highlights the need for self-awareness regarding one's abilities and limits.
The Value of Integrity
Dumas emphasizes the significance of integrity and keeping one's word. Once a promise is made, it becomes a matter of honor to fulfill it, thus demonstrating trustworthiness.
Prudence in Decision Making
The quote advises careful consideration before undertaking any task or making a promise. It encourages thinking before acting, ensuring that you are capable of delivering what you commit to.
Consequences of Broken Promises
Implicitly, the quote warns of the negative consequences of failing to keep a promise. Breaking one’s word can lead to the loss of trust and damaged relationships.
Alexander Dumas and Honor
As a French writer from the 19th century, Alexander Dumas often dealt with themes of honor, loyalty, and personal responsibility in his works, such as 'The Three Musketeers.' This quote is in line with his belief in the value of personal integrity.
Recommended Reading
As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
One-minute reflection
What's one small action this suggests?
Related Quotes
6 selectedDiscipline is not about suppressing your emotions; it is about honoring your commitments even when your emotions are tired. — Josh Waitzkin
Josh Waitzkin
At first glance, discipline is often mistaken for emotional repression, as if strength requires numbing oneself. Josh Waitzkin’s line corrects that misunderstanding by presenting discipline as fidelity rather than force:...
Read full interpretation →To be successful, you have to have your heart in your business, and your business in your heart — Thomas Watson
Thomas Watson
Thomas Watson’s statement argues that success is not built on calculation alone; it grows when emotional commitment and professional effort become inseparable. To have your heart in your business means caring deeply abou...
Read full interpretation →Whatever you do, do it with all your might. Work at it, early and late, in season and out of season. — P.T. Barnum
P.T. Barnum
At its core, P.T. Barnum’s line is a demand for intensity rather than half-measures.
Read full interpretation →True mastery begins when you stop waiting for the feeling of inspiration and start relying on the engine of your own commitment. — Twyla Tharp
Twyla Tharp
Twyla Tharp’s statement reframes mastery as a choice rather than a mood. At first glance, inspiration seems like the natural beginning of great work, yet Tharp argues that real progress starts later—when a person stops w...
Read full interpretation →One of the best pieces of advice I ever got was from a horse master. He told me to go slow to go fast. — Viggo Mortensen
Viggo Mortensen
At first glance, the advice sounds contradictory: how can going slowly possibly help someone move faster? Yet Viggo Mortensen’s recollection of a horse master’s guidance captures a practical truth learned in disciplines...
Read full interpretation →If you can't see yourself working with someone for life, don't work with them for a day. — Naval Ravikant
Naval Ravikant
Naval Ravikant’s line compresses a demanding hiring philosophy into a single test: treat every collaboration as the beginning of a long relationship. If you wouldn’t want to compound time, trust, and responsibility with...
Read full interpretation →More From Author
More from Alexander Dumas →