trust, but verify
trust, but verify
Have faith in someone or something, but be sure to confirm their trustworthiness independently. The phrase comes from the Russian proverb ???????, ?? ???????? (doveryai, no proveryai), popularized in English by US President Ronald Reagan. A: "I want to believe her, and I don't want to offend her, but ultimately I'm skeptical." B: "Trust, but verify. Make a phone call to confirm what she's saying is true." Of course I don't doubt that everyone on the team is putting in the hours they are supposed to, but I wouldn't be a very good manager if I didn't make sure. Trust, but verify, right? When it comes to political alliances, the old maxim always stands true—trust, but verify.
See also: but, verify
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
- verify
- teach a man to fish
- it takes a village
- village
- better bend than break
- best-laid plans go astray, the
- the best-laid plans
- the best-laid plans go astray
- the best-laid plans of mice and men
- Beware of little expenses; a small leak will sink a great ship.