English Explanatory Dictionary

trust, but verify

English dictionary entry

Meanings

phrase
  1. One should have general faith in the benevolent intentions of others, but ultimately one can only rely on things that have been verified.

Word forms

trust, but verify

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.

Related words

trust everybody, but cut the cards
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