proverb · Words worth keeping
He ruins himself in promises, and clears himself by giving nothing.
He ruins himself in promises, and clears himself by giving nothing.
In print by 1857 AD · industrial
Recorded in a printed collection by this date; the original date of these words is still unknown.
Understand the thought
Meaning in plain English
Lavish promises can create the appearance of generosity without delivering any benefit. Judge an undertaking by its realistic terms and fulfilment rather than the scale of its words.
What the words are saying
The person spends extravagantly in promises and settles the account by giving nothing. The contradiction exposes words that create an impression of commitment while leaving the recipient without the promised result. A practical response asks what will be delivered, when it is due and what resources support the undertaking. Clear limits can be more useful than an impressive offer with no workable plan. The proverb does not make every failure to deliver deliberate deception. Circumstances can change, but an honest response explains the change and takes responsibility for its consequences.
Everyday example
A volunteer offers a modest task they can finish by Friday instead of promising to organise the entire event and providing no help.
When to use it
Use it to compare impressive commitments with actual delivery.
What it does not mean
Plans can fail despite sincere effort. Distinguish misleading promises from a genuine setback and allow people to explain or revise commitments.
Agent-assisted editorial interpretation. This explains the words; it does not by itself verify their author or earliest origin.
Attribution & collection notes
- Author or tradition
- Traditional (French-language collection)
Attribution: traditional - Country attributed
- Not established
A country attribution does not establish the earliest origin. - Historical period
- In print by 1857 AD · industrial
In print by 1857: recorded in A Polyglot of Foreign Proverbs (1857). Collection publication is an upper bound for this wording, not its earliest origin, composition date or the author's lifetime.
An author lifetime, approximate period or collection date is not necessarily the date when these words were first written or spoken. - Recorded source
- A Polyglot of Foreign Proverbs (1857) (1857 AD)
Printed page 26; French section, paragraph 524; source wording: Il se ruine à promettre, et s’acquitte à ne rien donner.
A collection's publication date can be later than the words it records.