A historical example to help support this statement?

Question

Thanks to those that have helped me on the previous few statements I have needed help on, this is the last one out of twenty and I'm stuck on it, so I'd like help. Thanks again. The historical example can be anything from a ruler to an event, I just need ideas to work off of please.

"A prudent ruler cannot… honor his word when it places him at a disadvantage and when the reason for which he made his promise no longer exists."

Answer 1

Didn't George Bush say "read my lips, no new taxes"?

Answer 2

This is from Machiavelli, right?

Anyhow, you can think of contemporary politicians and their campaign promises.

I think in Shakespeare's 2nd Henriad you could find some examples, but that's not really historical.

Or, to use an unpopular example, Hitler, who was certainly a prudent ruler, agreed with Chamberlain at the Munich Agreement not to attack any more than the Sudetenland... my history gets a little weak here, but he did, because it was no longer in his interest to keep his word.

Answer 3

The best example that comes into my mind would be Woodrow Wilson's initial promise that the United States would not get involved in the First World War. Circumstances, however, forced him to reconsider.

Answer 4

I was trying to tie in how when Pharoh had Joseph be like an ambassidor in order to stockpile supplies for the coming famine. He gave him rule over half kingdom(?). Anyway later when the Egyptians made it through the famine with his help, the Isrealites were treated as slaves.

Ah! Just thought of this. Abraham, when the angel told him Sari was going to have a child and because it was taking so long, Sari said "take my handmaid Haggai to wife," Well Abraham (ruler in his tribe) treated her with respect  u n t i l (13 yrs  later) Sari now birthed Issac.  Since the child of Gods promise was now there, Sara had him cast Haggai (along with her son) away from the tribe (even if it was only till tempers cooled).

Answer 5

Taking marriage as a promise I'd look at kings that had to get rid of their wives when they wouldn't produce a son.

Answer 6

The only two examples that even remotely could be used (that comes to my mind) are:

When President Eisenhower assured the world that there had been no spy planes flying over Russia.  He had to back down when the Russians produced Capt. Gary Powers, U.S. A.F. who'd been shot down ina U-2 spy plane.

President Woodrow Wilson had promised to keep the U.S. out of the war in Europe (WW I).  Then the Germans announced unrestricted submarine warfare in the Atlantic and began sinking U.S. ships.  The U.S. went to war.