Things promised are things due.
Things promised are things due.
Meaning in plain English
A promise creates an expectation of action. Take commitments seriously and communicate promptly when fulfilling them becomes difficult rather than letting another person rely on silence.
Example
A neighbour promises to collect a parcel on Friday. When their schedule changes, they tell the recipient early enough to arrange another collection.
Deeper explanation and when to use it
The saying treats a promised thing as something another person is now entitled to expect. That expectation can influence their plans, so a promise has consequences before it is fulfilled. It is better to consider capacity before making a commitment and then track what was agreed. If circumstances change, explain the problem and seek a revised arrangement. The proverb expresses a moral expectation about reliability; it is not a statement that every informal promise has the same legal force or can never be reconsidered.
When to use it
Use it to emphasise the practical responsibility created by a commitment.
Keep in mind
Promises made under pressure or towards harmful ends may need to be refused or revised. Reliability does not require carrying out harm.
Edsverb editorial interpretation · agent reviewed · 2026-10-05. This explains the saying; it does not establish its historical origin.
- Source
- A Polyglot of Foreign Proverbs (1857)
Printed page 13; French section, paragraph 265; source wording: Choses promises sont choses dues.
Read the original context ↗ - Attribution confidence
- traditional · historical anthology
Preserved as printed; independently unverified. - Historical coordinate
- Undated
No reliable date supplied by the collection. - Rights & edition
- Public domain (United States)
Translations and rights may differ elsewhere.
Provenance and licences ↗