The glue that holds all relationships together—including the relationship between the leader and the led is trust, and trust is based on integrity.
—Brian Tracy (b.1944) American Author, Motivational Speaker
Deciding whether or not to trust a person is like deciding whether or not to climb a tree, because you might get a wonderful view from the highest branch, or you might simply get covered in sap, and for this reason many people choose to spend their time alone and indoors, where it is harder to get a splinter.
—Lemony Snicket (Daniel Handler) (b.1970) American Novelist
It’s amazing how someone’s IQ seems to double as soon as you give them responsibility and indicate that you trust them.
—Tim Ferriss (b.1977) American Self-help Author
Except during the nine months before he draws his first breath, no man manages his affairs as well as a tree. We are inclined to believe those whom we do not know because they have never deceived us.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
He who does not trust enough, Will not be trusted.
—Laozi (fl.6th Century BCE) Chinese Philosopher, Sage
Few delights can equal the mere presence of one whom we trust utterly.
—George MacDonald (1824–1905) Scottish Novelist, Lecturer, Poet
Obey your soul, have perfect faith in yourself. Never think of yourself with doubt or distrust, or as one who makes mistakes.
—Wallace Wattles (1860–1911) American New Thought Author
Trust yourself. You know more than you think you do.
—Benjamin Spock (1903–98) American Pediatrician, Author
I will trust and not be afraid.
—Wallace Wattles (1860–1911) American New Thought Author
You still indulge in distrustful fears that things will go wrong, or that people will betray you, or mistreat you; get above all of them.
—Wallace Wattles (1860–1911) American New Thought Author
The inability to open up to hope is what blocks trust, and blocked trust is the reason for blighted dreams.
—Elizabeth Gilbert (b.1969) American Novelist, Memoirist
Trust men and they will be true to you; treat them greatly and they will show themselves great.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
To trust God when we have securities in our iron chest is easy, but not thankworthy; but to depend on him for what we cannot see, as it is more hard for man to do, so it is more acceptable to God.
—Owen Feltham (1602–1668) English Essayist
Trust in the person’s promise, who dares to refuse what they fear they cannot perform.
—Charles Spurgeon (1834–92) English Baptist Preacher
I can but trust that good shall fall
At last—far off—at last, to all,
And every winter change to spring.
—Alfred, Lord Tennyson (1809–92) British Poet
If thou be subject to any great vanity or ill, then therein trust no man; for every man’s folly ought to be his greatest secret.
—Walter Raleigh (1552–1618) English Courtier, Navigator, Poet
I think that we may safely trust a good deal more than we do. We may waive just so much care of ourselves as we honestly bestow elsewhere.
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–62) American Philosopher
Self-trust is the first secret of success.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
Trust is the highest form of human motivation.
—Stephen Covey (1932–2012) American Self-help Author
We’re never so vulnerable than when we trust someone – but paradoxically, if we cannot trust, neither can we find love or joy.
—Walter Anderson
I trust in Nature for the stable laws
Of beauty and utility. Spring shall plant
And Autumn garner to the end of time.
—Robert Browning (1812–89) English Poet
He who trusts all things to chance, makes a lottery of his life
—Common Proverb
To be trusted is a greater compliment than to be loved.
—George MacDonald (1824–1905) Scottish Novelist, Lecturer, Poet
What upsets me is not that you lied to me, but that from now on I can no longer believe you.
—Friedrich Nietzsche (1844–1900) German Philosopher, Scholar, Writer
Liberalism is trust of the people tempered by prudence. Conservatism is distrust of the people tempered by fear.
—William Ewart Gladstone (1809–98) English Liberal Statesman, Prime Minister
Who would not rather trust and be deceived?
—Eliza Cook (1818–89) English Author, Poet, Writer
Even now, I find that no matter what has happened, I still have that trust. I have a lot of trust, that people can be better than they are.
—Alice Walker (b.1944) American Novelist, Activist
Trust your hunches… Hunches are usually based on facts filed away just below the conscious level. Warning! Do not confuse your hunches with wishful thinking. This is the road to disaster.
—Joyce Brothers (1927–2013) American Psychologist, Advice Columnist
Trust me not at all, or all in all.
—Alfred, Lord Tennyson (1809–92) British Poet
Trust, like the soul, never returns, once it is gone.
—Publilius Syrus (fl.85–43 BCE) Syrian-born Roman Latin Writer
Woe to the man whose heart has not learned while young to hope, to love—and to put its trust in life.
—Joseph Conrad (1857–1924) Polish-born British Novelist
Trust him not with your secrets, who, when left alone in your room, turns over your papers.
—Johann Kaspar Lavater (1741–1801) Swiss Theologian, Poet
If women believed in their husbands they would be a good deal happier and also a good deal more foolish.
—H. L. Mencken (1880–1956) American Journalist, Literary Critic
Never trust the advice of a man in difficulties.
—Aesop (620–564 BCE) Greek Fabulist
The highest compact we can make with our fellow is—“Let there be truth between us two forevermore.”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
Take special care that thou never trust any friend or servant with any matter that may endanger thine estate; for so shalt thou make thyself a bond slave to him that thou trustest, and leave thyself always to his mercy.
—Walter Raleigh (1552–1618) English Courtier, Navigator, Poet
When we let someone be who they are without trying to change them, that is giving away love. When we trust that someone can handle his or her own life, and act accordingly, that is giving away love.
—Susan Jeffers (1938–2012) American Psychologist, Self-Help Author
TRUST: I know that you will not—deliberately or accidentally, consciously or unconsciously—take unfair advantage of me. I can put my situation at the moment, my status and self-esteem in this group, our relationship, my job, my career, even my life, in your hands with complete confidence.
—Douglas McGregor (1906–64) American Sociologist, Industrial Psychologist
It is an equal failing to trust everybody, and to trust nobody.
—English Proverb
We’re all born brave, trusting, and greedy, and most of us remain greedy.
—Mignon McLaughlin (1913–83) American Journalist, Author
The soul and spirit that animates and keeps up society is mutual trust.
—Robert South (1634–1716) English Theologian, Preacher
You can fool too many of the people too much of the time.
—James Thurber
He who believes in nobody knows that he himself is not to be trusted.
—Berthold Auerbach (1812–82) German Novelist
Someone who thinks the world is always cheating him is right. He is missing that wonderful feeling of trust in someone or something.
—Andrew V. Mason
You ask can we ever trust the Bear?… I will give you several answers at once. The first is no, we can never trust the Bear. For one reason, the Bear doesn
—John le Carre (1931–2020) English Spy Thriller Novelist
Trust no one unless you have eaten much salt with him.
—Cicero (106BCE–43BCE) Roman Philosopher, Orator, Politician, Lawyer
Without trust, words become the hollow sound of a wooden gong. With trust, words become life itself.
—Indian Proverb
A wedding anniversary is the celebration of love, trust, partnership, tolerance and tenacity. The order varies for any given year.
—Paul Sweeney
One must be fond of people and trust them if one is not to make a mess of life.
—E. M. Forster (1879–1970) English Novelist, Short Story Writer, Essayist
Put not your trust in money, but put your money in trust.
—Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr. (1809–94) American Physician, Essayist