“ I have been asked what I mean by a word of honor. I will tell you: place me behind prison walls-walls of stone ever so high, ever so thick, reaching ever so thick, reaching ever so far into the ground- there is a possibility that in some way or another I might be able to escape; but stand me on the floor and draw a chalk line around me and have me give my word of honor never cross it. Can I get out of that circle. No never. I die first.”- Karl Maeser

        

What he means is that if someone doesn't tell him give the world of hon0r he will keep doing it or he won't listen to what you say. But if someone says you swear to not do this and he swears then  that means that he is not going to do it.