Promises and pie-crust are made to be broken

Promises and pie-crust are made to be broken

The quote "Promises and pie-crust are made to be broken" is often attributed to the famous satirist and author Jonathan Swift. This quote encapsulates Swift's cynical view of human nature and the tendency for people to make promises they have no intention of keeping.

Swift was known for his sharp wit and biting satire, and this quote is a perfect example of his ability to cut through the facade of polite society and expose the hypocrisy and deceit that often lies beneath. In Swift's view, promises are easily made but just as easily broken, much like the fragile crust of a pie that crumbles at the slightest touch.

Swift's works are filled with characters who make grand promises and declarations, only to betray them at the first opportunity. In his most famous work, "Gulliver's Travels," the protagonist encounters a series of fantastical societies that are all plagued by corruption, deceit, and broken promises. Swift uses these societies as a mirror to reflect the flaws and failings of his own society, showing that human nature is fundamentally flawed and prone to deception.

The quote "Promises and pie-crust are made to be broken" can be seen as a reflection of Swift's own disillusionment with the world around him. Swift lived in a time of political turmoil and social upheaval, and he was keenly aware of the ways in which people could be manipulated and deceived by those in power. For Swift, promises were just another tool used by the powerful to maintain their control over the masses, and he saw through the empty words and false promises that were all too common in his time.