What does “All promises are either broken or kept.” mean?

"All promises are either broken or kept" means that when someone makes a promise, they will either fulfill it or break it. There is no in-between, and it is essential to take people at their word and trust them accordingly.

What context can I use the in?

Example

I don't trust him anymore. All promises are either broken or kept. He has broken too many promises in the past.

Example

She always keeps her promises. All promises are either broken or kept. I know I can rely on her.

Example

I'm skeptical about his commitment. All promises are either broken or kept. I hope he proves me wrong and keeps his word

Is “All promises are either broken or kept.” an expression, an idiom, or a proverb?

“All promises are either broken or kept.” is a proverb. A proverb is a short saying that teaches us something important or gives us advice. Unlike an idiom, it’s easy to understand even if it uses figurative language.

How would I use “All promises are either broken or kept.” effectively in context?

You can use "All promises are either broken or kept" to emphasize the importance of trust and reliability in relationships. It reminds us that when someone makes a promise, they will either fulfill it or break it. Here are three distinct situations where you can use this proverb:

1Distrust
I don't trust him anymore. All promises are either broken or kept. He has broken too many promises in the past.
2Reliability
She always keeps her promises. All promises are either broken or kept. I know I can rely on her.
3Skepticism
I'm skeptical about his commitment. All promises are either broken or kept. I hope he proves me wrong and keeps his word.

Similar phrases to “All promises are either broken or kept.”:

Actions speak louder than words

What someone does is more important than what they say

Example

He promised to help, but his actions speak louder than words.

Put your money where your mouth is

To back up your words with actions or financial support

Example

If you believe in your idea, put your money where your mouth is and invest in it.

A promise is a promise

A promise should always be kept

Example

You said you would do it, so a promise is a promise.

Good things to know:

Where does the phrase “All promises are either broken or kept.” come from?

The origin of the phrase "All promises are either broken or kept" is unknown.

Is “All promises are either broken or kept.” common in everyday conversation?

"All promises are either broken or kept" is not a commonly used phrase in everyday conversation. It is more often seen in written texts or formal discussions about trust and reliability.

What tone does “All promises are either broken or kept.” have?

"All promises are either broken or kept" conveys a tone of caution and skepticism. It highlights the importance of being cautious when trusting someone's promises and encourages individuals to be reliable and keep their word.

Can “All promises are either broken or kept.” be used in informal and formal settings?

"All promises are either broken or kept" is a formal phrase that is more commonly used in written texts or formal discussions. It may not be suitable for casual conversations or informal settings.

Can it be used by itself, or is it usually part of a sentence?

It is commonly used as part of a sentence to convey its full meaning. For example, 'I don't trust him anymore. "All promises are either broken or kept".' However, in informal conversations, people might understand the proverb even if used alone, like saying '"All promises are either broken or kept"' to imply the importance of trust and reliability.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms

trust is earned, not given
words are wind
promises are meant to be kept
trust but verify
don't make promises you can't keep

Antonyms

some promises are half-hearted
promises are made to be broken
promises are just empty words
promises are unreliable
promises are easily forgotten