oath, n.Definitions

The Oath is the fossil of piety.

An Oath is but words, and words are but wind.

The Oath is better never to be taken, for when you do, people tend to think you mean it.

The Oath is always doomed to failure — he who swears is a liar.

An Oath is unlike anything else, for people always think you mean it.

The Oath is quick to come for the liar -- the liar is always lavish of oaths.

An Oath is a recognizance to heaven, binding us over in the courts above to plead to the indictment of our crimes.

An Oath is a thing which to sign is to destroy some of the loyalty one could otherwise claim, since any subsequent loyal behavior may then be attributed to the oath.