Ellen Terry

If it is the mark of the artist to love art before everything, to renounce everything for its sake, to think all the sweet human things of life well lost if only he may attain something, do some good, great work - then I was never an artist.

English Actress

Gary Bauer

It's important for American soldiers to be culturally sensitive when deployed in foreign countries. But it's just as important for the U.S. never to renounce the most fundamental American values, which, after all, are also universal values.

American Public Servant

Thomas Paine

To argue with a man who has renounced the use and authority of reason, and whose philosophy consists in holding humanity in contempt, is like administering medicine to the dead, or endeavoring to convert an atheist by scripture.

English Activist

Nathan Myhrvold

Mankind is not special by virtue of our address in the universe, or what spins around us, or because life originated here. Slowly, but surely, we've been compelled to renounce the comfort of these beliefs.

American Businessman

Emile Durkheim

It is too great comfort which turns a man against himself. Life is most readily renounced at the time and among the classes where it is least harsh.

French Sociologist

Milovan Djilas

The strongest are those who renounce their own times and become a living part of those yet to come. The strongest and the rarest.

Politician

Thomas Carlyle

Sarcasm I now see to be, in general, the language of the devil; for which reason I have long since as good as renounced it.

Scottish Philosopher

Heraclitus

The best people renounce all for one goal, the eternal fame of mortals; but most people stuff themselves like cattle.

Greek Philosopher

Albert Camus

I have never been able to renounce the light, the pleasure of being, and the freedom in which I grew up.

French Philosopher

A. A. Milne

War is something of man's own fostering, and if all mankind renounces it, then it is no longer there.

English Author

Use 'renounce' when someone makes a strong, often public decision to give something up.

Final Decision

'Renounce' implies a definitive and often irreversible action.

Irrevocable Action

The act of renouncing is frequently done publicly, in front of witnesses or via official statement.

Public Statement

In religious contexts, 'renounce' often means rejecting something temptingly sinful or spiritually wrong.

Strong Rejection

Renouncing can hint at a moral or spiritual transformation or epiphany.

Spiritual Transformation

Use 'renounce' to emphasize a deeply personal and heartfelt decision to change beliefs.

Personal Conviction

When used legally, 'renounce' indicates a formal rejection of a contract or agreement.

Legal Implications

Use 'renounce' to show someone is disclaiming responsibility or association with something.

Disavow Responsibility

The word 'renounce' is formal and might be out of place in casual conversation.

Formal Context

 without waiting for our permission. This doubt compels me to renounce the role of savior that some have placed on me, because our time is too short and our odds are too long to wait for second comings, when the truth is that there will be no miracles here.

The gospel of doubt PIPE...

 raining tens of thousands of leaflets on people below. Written by anonymous Germans, the leaflets urged readers to renounce Hitler, to fight furiously for the future— and to never give up hope. Their call to action rippled through homes and businesses—

The secret student...

 I was ready swear you in and Wyoming and it was a jolly difficult decision well I didn't really feel very British that where I was all right about leaving up my British passport in general although they made me renounce the Prince I said