All promises are either broken or kept.
All promises are either broken or kept.
Meaning in plain English
The saying divides promises into those kept and those broken. It directs attention from making a commitment to what follows it.
Example
Two people clarify the agreed commitment before discussing whether it was fulfilled.
Deeper explanation and when to use it
The binary form gives fulfilment emphasis but leaves partial, changing or disputed commitments unexplained. A useful reading asks what was promised and what actually happened before assigning responsibility. The phrase does not determine intent or make every unmet expectation a broken promise.
When to use it
Use it to compare a specific promise with subsequent conduct.
Keep in mind
An unmet expectation is not automatically a promise broken or proof of bad intent.
Edsverb editorial interpretation · agent reviewed · 2026-10-05. This explains the saying; it does not establish its historical origin.
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Supplied reference A; unit 506; PDF page 74
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