proverb · Words worth keeping
Apt to promise, apt to forget.
Apt to promise, apt to forget.
Understand the thought
Meaning in plain English
A person quick to make assurances may also fail to remember or fulfil them. The saying warns against relying on readiness to promise alone, without making enthusiasm proof of unreliability.
Example
Family members eagerly offer to feed a neighbour’s cat over a weekend, then write down who will cover each visit so none is forgotten.
Deeper explanation and when to use it
The repeated apt connects ease of making a promise with ease of forgetting it. The proverb can question assurances offered so readily that the person has not considered what keeping them requires. That pattern is a possibility to examine, not a dependable way to judge everyone who sounds willing. A forgotten commitment can have several causes, and a cautious speaker can also fail to deliver. The useful response clarifies what has been agreed, makes important details easy to remember and looks at actual follow-through. It should not replace practical coordination with a general suspicion of enthusiasm or treat one lapse as a complete account of someone’s character.
When to use it
Use it when easy assurances need to be translated into clear, remembered commitments.
Keep in mind
Quick agreement is not proof of bad intent or unreliability; assess actual circumstances and conduct.
An interpretation of the words, not a claim about their earliest origin.
Attribution & collection notes
- Author or tradition
- Traditional
Attribution: traditional - Country attributed
- Not established
A country attribution does not establish the earliest origin. - Historical period
- Date unknown
- Culture
- English