Etiquette and Making Promises

“He who holds an eel by the tail and a woman by her word, grasps a slippery handle.” This old proverb could have been specifically referring to Mopsy… In the “Mopsy” cartoon strip, which ran for nearly 3 decades beginning in 1937, Mopsy was portrayed as a young and ditzy, rather flaky and vain fashionista, who was continually looking out only for herself. Promises were not taken very seriously by Mopsy unless, of course, someone had made a promise to her!

Danger in Making Impulsive Promises 

Keeping one’s promises is another act of high courtesy. A gentleman or a lady never fails to stand by his or her pledged word. Honor is greatly prized by us all and by keeping our promises even in small matters do we help to prove that we have it. It has been said many times that men have a higher sense of honor than women and one old proverb goes so far as to say, “He who holds an eel by the tail and a woman by her word, grasps a slippery handle.” 

We know, of course, that this saying and the ancient proverb are not true; but we also know that women are more prone than men to make impulsive promises and then find it impossible to perform them. Voluntarily to give one's word to a friend or fellow- worker and then deliberately to break it, is dishonorable, discourteous and not an act of which any well-bred person would be guilty. — By Ida Parker White, 1924

 🍽Etiquette Enthusiast, Maura J. Graber, is the Site Editor for the Etiquipedia© Etiquette Encyclopedia