- NEW!
by Cyndi Ninja on December 6th, 2007
Selected by the asker, AnonymousGirl. (What's this?)
When keeping that promise could cause someone harm.
by AntigoneRising on December 7th, 2007
Selected by the asker, AnonymousGirl. (What's this?)
When it becomes clear to you that keeping the promise causes more harm than breaking it. Generally, this means that it would harm yourself or others.
by Gingerminx on December 6th, 2007
Selected by the asker, AnonymousGirl. (What's this?)
If breaking the promise would save a life.
I honestly think the answer is much more complex than any simple answer can give.
Throughout life, there are times when promises are broken, for varying reasons. Marriage is a promise, but most people don't expect unhappy people to stay married.
You might promise your mom and dad you'll never smoke or drink, then time goes by and you find you've done one or both.
While we can and should all strive to do the best we can to keep any and all promises we make, it just sometimes doesn't happen.
I do not take promises lightly, and I always mean to keep every one I make, but circumstances surrounding the original promise can drastically change. I don't think that a promise can necessarily be taken as a sacred oath that must never be broken. Sometimes, breaking a promise is necessary and even the correct thing to do.
Say you promise your mother-in-law you won't move away with her daughter and you get a great job opportunity in another state that will be in the best interest of your family.
You promise a friend you won't tell his parents that he's doing drugs and then he becomes so horribly addicted that measures have to be taken to save his life.
The list just goes on and on.
While the best course of action would certainly be to never promise anyone anything, most of us do it, and we do it with the best of intentions, fully intending to follow-through with that promise till the day we die.
The plain fact is that life sometimes just changes things.
by sweetcheeks on January 8th, 2008
Selected by the asker, AnonymousGirl. (What's this?)
When you know that the promise that you made is going to wind up hurting someone in the long run.
The best way (and this is how I live my life) Is to not make promises you MAY not be able to keep.
I have said many times "I can't make that promise".
But if push comes to shove and you have given your word, then choose the lesser of two evils.
if you promise to so something that may harm others!
but before promising you should always think 1st 2 check you can promise and keep it
by jamaine12 on December 10th, 2007
Selected by the asker, AnonymousGirl. (What's this?)
If you can cause hurt and misery from that promise..:)
by Anonymous on November 25th, 2009
Selected by the asker, AnonymousGirl. (What's this?)
When keeping it is going to cause harm.
+5
when you know it is going to hurt you or someone else
by Isle-dreams on November 16th, 2009
Selected by the asker, AnonymousGirl. (What's this?)
yes, very true. if someone will be harmed or that someone will harm themselves.
by Vaporeongirl on November 16th, 2009
Selected by the asker, AnonymousGirl. (What's this?)
When keeping it will hurt you or somebody else.
by Stranger in a Strange Land on November 13th, 2009
Selected by the asker, AnonymousGirl. (What's this?)
If the promise was made under duress (threat or physical force). +3
by Kevisaurus is a Carnotaurus today on December 6th, 2007
When you know that there will be no real way to keep it intact.
by SaraZita on December 7th, 2007
life or death situation that's it
by Lonewolf_001 on December 6th, 2007
When you know you can't keep it. Though you really shouldn't have made that promise in the fist place then. But if you've made one and cant keep it, make sure you tell the other person and tell them why you cant.
by Angel of Music on February 10th, 2008
NEVER! A promise is a promise! When you made it you where fully aware of that! It's only acceptable if something other than you makes it physically impossible to keep. Like for example you promised your grandmother you'd visit her, but a big rainstorm make it impossible for you to get to her. You should however try and make amends afterward. Other wise the people who you made promises to and did not keep will not trust your word.
by Slim746 on April 8th, 2008
Circumstances beyond your control.
by Jizzel on January 16th, 2008
Its never okay to break a promise... Why the hell would you make it in the first place then! If you cant commit to what you say then keep quite and dont say anything at all if you know you cant go through with it!
by buxtonite ..slowly losing my mind on December 7th, 2007
never!...if you can not keep a promise then don't make one ...that way you will never have to break one :)
by Fairywebmother on May 16th, 2008
If you don't make them, you never have to break them. My commitments always come with disclaimers. Life is what it is and there are no guarantees. My word, however IS my bond...that's why I'm so careful not to nail any doors shut.
by always-forever on May 5th, 2008
a promise not made is a promise not broken...
by Beautiful on April 8th, 2008
when its between life or death
by Valarie robbing the Deaf on March 1st, 2008
When you didn't make one.
by chibi_raindrops on March 1st, 2008
for the safety of the one you care
by Oddjob on February 10th, 2008
Word of honor, should not make a promise unless you intend to keep it and also it wont hurt anyone. I personally dont say "I promise" unless I actually am going to keep it.
by TravelBug on February 10th, 2008
when it goes against your moral and values
by kanth18 on February 10th, 2008
before the promise breaks you
by angel on February 10th, 2008
when it is impossible to fullfill it at the time and something unforseen comes up. People that keep promises normally, are usually forgiven I think
by duuhhh on February 9th, 2008
When nobody cares.
by miRi hates social norms and regulations on February 9th, 2008
ex. A and C are best friends in their freshman year of HS. C is starting to act a little slutty around a few boys, and A notices a big change in her. A finds out that C lost her virginity. Doesn't say anything. about a month later C's sleeping with another boy. A tells her parents. C ends up getting home schooled for a semester and doesn't talk to A the entire time even through summer. C got tested for STD's and pregnancy. she was lucky. it took A 8 months to get to talk to C again, but C's mom thanked A for keeping her baby safe.
[true story between two girls i know. had i known about C i wouldn't have been able to do what A did, and i stand behind A 100%]
by MysteryGirl on February 9th, 2008
when its more important than the promise you made
by -O-uknow on February 3rd, 2008
Not if it is in the form of a signed contract.
by Alloysius on February 3rd, 2008
Sorry, but to me a promise is a promise.
I don't think it is ever okay to break a promise, if this promise hurts someone else, you shouldn't have accepted the responsibility to take it, and its burdens when you said "I promise" or something along those lines.
by Anonymous on January 29th, 2008
I quote from Hondo in S.W.A.T ~ "Sometimes, doing the right thing ain't doing the right thing."
Cheers.
by Me2 on January 29th, 2008
No, but sometimes it can't be helped. I try not making promises I know I can't or wont keep.
by SABOTEUR on January 27th, 2008
Never.
However, one should never MAKE promises.
Your intentions may be sincere, but you have no control over circumstances which may convince you to change your mind.
by SABOTEUR on January 27th, 2008
Never.
However, one should never MAKE promises.
Your intentions may be sincere, but you have no control over circumstances which may convince you to change your mind.
by simple_me on January 27th, 2008
If breaking that promise will results to something good to that person.
by Vannie prays for babycakes . on January 27th, 2008
When you feel it is not worth keeping one and could harm someone.
by superd97 on January 11th, 2008
When you know in your heart that you can't keep it when you know it damages someoone feelings or crtitical decision.
by xxbamf on December 28th, 2007
I agree with sara in life or death situations
by qwerty123 on December 10th, 2007
its never okay to break a promise
by Anonymous on December 10th, 2007
When it is for the good of the person or another person.
by Esteban-- Smartest Pumpkin on December 6th, 2007
when it is convient.
by SoulFire on November 16th, 2009
When the other person breaks it first.
Like marriage, If you promise to love, honor and cherish but your partner abuses you then the promise is void.
Or if it can hurt someone by keeping it. And we are talking really hurt.
by pouncey on November 16th, 2009
When that person you promise with turns to be an ass.
by Lucky67 on November 13th, 2009
When they dishonest, untrust worthy or cheat on you.
by Vaporeongirl on October 30th, 2009
When it is putting you in danger or when the person the promise was made to begins to use it to control you.
by just_slightly on October 29th, 2009
once youv changed the door locks to your house, stocked up on food and reloaded your gun. then and only then will you be safe from the wrath f an angry girlfriend/wife and a broken promise
Do you keep your promises?
by SELENIUM_TEST_83335 on June 14th, 2010
| 1 person likes this
i always feel taken for granted by my bf but if im telling him what i feel he's telling me he didn't.
by prettylyn on July 13th, 2010
| 1 person likes this
would you forgive your bf or gf if they cheated on you, not by having sex, would u forgive them if they tried anything posible to win u back
by kira7 on June 27th, 2010
| 1 person likes this
My best friend and i like the same guy but that guy ask me out and i said yes and that made heer mad and heart bokien at the same time WSID?
by PPlover13 on May 9th, 2010
| 1 person likes this
Do the promises you made to others and never kept haunt you more than the ones others made to you and never kept?
by RosieGHM Jetpacker on April 23rd, 2010
| 1 person likes this
You're reading When is it okay to break a promise?
Your favorite Q&A site is on Facebook! Become a fan to connect with the ever-growing community of Answerbaggers, share your thoughts and find out what Answerbag's up to next!
Comments
I agree. Thank you. :]
by AnonymousGirl on January 27th, 2008
Yw :)
by Cyndi Ninja on January 27th, 2008
:)
by AnonymousGirl on February 3rd, 2008
i agree.. a promise is a promise its made to keep but if it comes to harm that person..then its in the best intrest to break it
by teddybear on April 3rd, 2008