Originally posted by Parallax Swearing an oath, signing a contract, giving your word can all become most inconvenient at times. It can cause moral conflict, financial hardship, all sorts of problems.
If any of you think that a person's word, his bond, his oath, or his signature on a contract should only be binding until it becomes an inconvenience, please contact me. I would like to borrow some money; but don't worry. I give you my word I'll pay you back, I'll even sign a contract.
You sign a contract with a company. One of the clauses is a confidentiality agreement. You discover, through accident that your company is dumping toxic material into a river, material which is banned, and which is causing fish to die and birds to mutate.
Do you live with your confidentiality agreement and let your employer pollute in such a way or do you become a whistle blower?
Do you live with the letter of your agreement or the spirit of your agreement.
Even if it isn't spelled out, there is a presumption that a contract is unenforceable if it coerces you into doing something illegal.