trust, but verify en · X
Etymology
Calque of Russian доверя́й, но проверя́й (doverjáj, no proverjáj). Often attributed to Vladimir Lenin, although no written evidence exists. Popularized in English by Ronald Reagan in the context of nuclear disarmament.
Meanings
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One should have general faith in the benevolent intentions of others, but ultimately one can only rely on things that have been verified.
Trust but verify—plain and simple. Well, mostly just verify, as the objective record removes the vulnerability of getting cheated.
2014, David DeSteno, The Truth About Trust: How It Determines Success in Life, Love, Learning, and More, Penguin, →ISBN, page 97:If I had blindly fulfilled her first request, it would have inconvenienced many other users and wouldn't have solved the problem. Never forget this phrase - “trust, but verify.”
2013, Kelly C Bourne, Application Administrators Handbook: Installing, Updating and Troubleshooting Software, Newnes, →ISBN, page 351:Before affixing his signature, Reagan also told the Soviet leader — and reassured congressional conservatives worried about Kremlin compliance — that he would follow the Russian adage to "trust, but verify."
1987 December 9, Thom Shanker, “Battle turns gentle with proverbs galore”, in Chicago Tribune:
Relateds
trust everybody, but cut the cards
Translations (13)
ar ثِقِي وَلٰكِن تُحَقِّقِي (Translations) · ru доверя́й, но проверя́й (Translations) · es confía, pero verifica (Translations) · pt confia, mas confira (Translations) · fa اعتماد کن، ولی راستیآزمایی کن (Translations) · zh 信任，但要核实 (Translations) · fr faites confiance, mais vérifiez (Translations) · de Vertrauen ist gut, Kontrolle ist besser (Translations) · pl ufaj, ale sprawdzaj (Translations) · ar ثِقْ وَلٰكِن تُحَقِّقْ (Translations) · cs důvěřuj, ale prověřuj (Translations) · de Vertraue, aber prüfe nach (Translations) · de trau, schau, wem (Translations)