'My boy,' said the MP to his son, who was just starting out in politics, 'if you are to succeed in politics, there are two things which are vitally important: honesty and foresight.'
'What exactly do you mean by honesty, Dad?' asked the lad.
'No matter what happens,' said his father, 'always keep your word once you have given it."
'And foresight?' said the young man.
'Never give your word in the first place.'
