Trust but verify
When relying on others' work or commitments
What Does “Trust but verify” Mean?
Maintain trusting relationships while implementing verification systems. Trust people's intentions but confirm outcomes. Healthy skepticism protects without destroying relationships.
Origin and History
'Trust, but verify' is a rhyming Russian proverb (doveryai, no proveryai). US President Ronald Reagan used it repeatedly during nuclear arms-control talks with the Soviet Union in the 1980s, which made it famous in English.
Examples
- Business: trust a supplier, but check the first deliveries and keep the contract clear.
- Teams: delegate a task fully, but agree on a checkpoint to review progress.
- Online: trust a news story from a friend, but check the source before sharing it.
What Happens When You Break It
Blind trust enables fraud, errors, and failures that could be prevented. Complete distrust destroys relationships and prevents collaboration.
Benefits of Following This Rule
Verification catches honest errors, deters fraud, provides assurance, maintains accountability, protects interests, while preserving relationships through continued trust.