Quotes about Distrust

The truth about human beings is, above all other forms of truth, something far too susceptible to our own willful and subjectivist distortions; by nature we never JUST LET SUCH A THING BE, or accept it as it is. Of all the decisive and strategic things that an intelligent human being needs to know about human beings, primary on the list would be this: human beings are overwhelmingly profoundly RESISTANT to knowing the truth about human nature. The one creature in all of organic nature that is capable of KNOWING its own nature is also, paradigmatic over all other creatures, the one most IN DENIAL about that nature. To ask of mortals that they should "know themselves" is little more than a cruel joke, japing at their crippled mentality and personality. Their grasp of this structural perversity or contrariety within human nature is the basis of all Greek wisdom, their aristic "misanthropy" or principled and profound distrust of human beings as pseudophiliacs. All that human beings are willing to call "truth" (for the most part) is some saccharine or cosmetic sweetness and light, some soporific opiate against all in human existence that might demand the utmost self-discipline, rationality, self-mastery, or spirituality from them.

If you would improve, submit to be considered wihout sense and foolish with respect to externals. Wish to be considered to know nothing; and if you shall seem to someone to be a person of importance, distrust yourself.

FIRST CITIZEN: Come, come, we fear the worst; all shall be well. THIRD CITIZEN: When clouds appear, wise men put on their cloaks; When great leaves fall, the winter is at hand; When the sun sets, who doth not look for night? Untimely storms make men expect a dearth. All my be well; but if God sort it so. 'Tis more than we deserve, or I expect. SECOND CITIZEN: Truly, the souls of men are full of dread; Ye cannot reason almost with a man That looks not heavily and full of fear. THIRD CITIZEN: Before the times of change, still is it so: By a divine instinct men's minds distrust Ensuing dangers; as, by proof, we see The waters swell before a boisterous storm.

Why, no, I say, distrustful recreants! Fight till the last gasp; I will be your guard.

As the things in the darkness That whisper before they feast, They are to be placated and persuaded, They are to be loved and sacrificed to, They are to be prayed to and distrusted.

The mere understanding, however useful and indispensable, is the meanest faculty in the human mind and the most to be distrusted.

I distrust those people who know so well what God wants them to do, because I notice it always coincides with their own desires.

The best rules to form a young man, are, to talk little, to hear much, to reflect alone upon what has passed in company, to distrust one's own opinions, and value others that deserve it.

The most important service rendered by the press and the magazines is that of educating people to approach printed matter with distrust.

When you disarm [the people], you commence to offend them and show that you distrust them either through cowardice or lack of confidence, and both of these opinions generate hatred.

I distrust the incommunicable; it is the source of all violence.

Logic and cold reason are poor weapons to fight fear and distrust. Only faith and generosity can overcome them.

Aside from the strictly moral standpoint, honesty is - not only the best policy, but the only possible policy from the standpoint of business relations. The fulfillment of the pledged word is of equal necessity to the conduct of all business. If we expect and demand virtue and honor in others, the flame of both must burn brightly within ourselves and shed their light to illuminate the erstwhile dark corners of distrust and dishonesty. . . . The truthful answer rests for the most part within ourselves, for like begets like. Honesty begets honesty; trust, trust; and so on through the whole category of desirable practices that must govern and control the world's affairs.

It is very nearly impossible . . . to become an educated person in a country so distrustful of the independent mind.

On one issue at least, men and women agree; they both distrust women.

The older I grow the more I distrust the familiar doctrine that age brings wisdom.

The only way to make a man trustworthy is to trust him; and the surest way to make him untrustworthy is to distrust him and show your distrust.

Distrust any enterprise that requires new clothes.

What loneliness is more lonely than distrust?

Distrust all in whom the impulse to punish is powerful.

If nations could overcome the mutual fear and distrust whose sombre shadow is now thrown over the world, and could meet with confidence and good will to settle their possible differences, they would easily be able to establish a lasting peace.

I distrust Great Men. They produce a desert of uniformity around them and often a pool of blood too, and I always feel a little man's pleasure when they come a cropper.

The true teacher defends his pupils against his own personal influence.  He inspires self-distrust.  He guides their eyes from himself to the spirit that quickens him.  He will have no disciple.

You can use all the quantitative data you can get, but you still have to distrust it and use your own intelligence and judgment.

Seek simplicity, and distrust it.

Distrust interested advice.