Those that are most slow in making a promise are the most faithful in the performance of it

Those that are most slow in making a promise are the most faithful in the performance of it. – Rousseau

"Ale! Ale! The gang's all here!" A gregarious group, but will they remember their promise of assistance come the morning?

What does that mean?
To me, this is as much a cautionary statement as anything. It cautions us to be wary of those who would quickly make promises, as they may back out of them as quickly as they were made. Those who took the time to think about the task and make sure they could keep the commitment, they are the ones who tend to be most faithful completing the task promised.

Back in his day, a lot of mingling and friendly meetings occurred at the local pub or ale house, and often a quick promise was prompted more by the drinks consumed than by sincere interest in completing the task promised. A delay, for heads to clear and consideration to be made, this quote implies, is preferable.

Why is analysis important?  
Analysis is the act of thinking about something, looking at it from many different angles, considering what will most likely happen, and what could happen if things go wrong. If someone was going to promise to help you do something, would you want that person to have spent some time analyzing the task, or someone who simply said they’d help?

What I would be concerned about is the unexpected. In this case unexpected is defined by the person who promised to help. If things get to be harder or take longer, or require more effort than they expected, they are more likely to quit. A person who has taken some time to analyze the situation will anticipate most of the rigors involved in the task and will be prepared for them. Does that make sense?

Where can I apply this in my life?
This quote has two sides to it, the side where you are soliciting people to help you, and when you are the one that someone else is soliciting for help. In one case, you are the person saying the quote, in the other, you are the person being spoken of in the quote.

Yes, there is always a strong temptation for a knee-jerk reaction to promise help when a friend or family member asks for it. For them, you are probably willing to go the extra mile, but what if you aren’t? What if they’re not that good a friend, or a cousin you don’t really like anyway?

The point I’m trying to make is if someone asks you to help, before you promise, think. Analyze the situation. What are they asking you to do? Are there legal, financial or significant time issues to deal with? What could go wrong, and if it does go bad, what are some of the possible outcomes?

Worst case, what are you getting yourself into? If you go through all this and still want to do it, you have done your analysis and should live up to your word, right? Take your time and make sure you’re ready, willing and able to provide the assistance you have promised. Then do it!

If you are the one asking for assistance, what are you looking for in a helper? Would it be wise for you count on someone who, when sober, may not even remember making the promise, much less what it entails? That sounds like a recipe for disaster, doesn’t it?

Instead, I would discuss the details with sober people until I found one who seemed to understand what was involved and seemed both willing and able to accomplish the desired task. By discussing what was involved, I could make sure that we were both understood what was going to happen, and that some of the possible scenarios had been covered.

In either case, some self discipline is required. You will have to resist the automatic response to a request for help, and resist accepting any offer (especially from be-sodden people). Take a deep breath and think, both as the promising person, and as the asking person, and make sure everyone understands.

Like anything else in life, if you have a habit to change, you have to work on it. Practice, practice, make a mistake, learn, and then practice some more. Hear the request, analyze the possibilities, then with slow and deliberate thought, make your decision, and only then should you reply, or make sure that the person you asked has done the same. Then faithfully fulfill the promise.

From: Twitter, @philo_quotes
confirmed at : http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/j/jeanjacque147584.html
Photo by Alaskan Dude