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Trust but verify

A principle that encourages good faith while insisting on independent confirmation. Popularized in English by U.S. President Ronald Reagan (1987) quoting the Russian proverb 'Доверяй, но проверяй'.

Caution Maxim 2 variants

Expressions Across Cultures

Fidarsi è bene, non fidarsi è meglio
To trust is good, not to trust is better
🇮🇹 Italian Rome, IT
Un proverbio notoriamente italiano che riflette secoli di intrighi politici delle corti rinascimentali. Attribuito dalla tradizione popolare a vari statisti italiani. In una cultura plasmata dal pensiero di Machiavelli, questo proverbio cattura l'approccio pragmatico italiano alla fiducia negli affari e nella politica.
Contributed by AdagIA Team
Доверяй, но проверяй
Trust, but verify
🇷🇺 Russian Moscow, RU
Pronunciation: Doveryay, no proveryay
An old Russian proverb that became internationally famous when Ronald Reagan used it during Cold War negotiations with Gorbachev. The rhyme (доверяй/проверяй) is perfect in Russian. It encapsulates the Russian cultural instinct toward wariness born of centuries of political upheaval and foreign invasions.
Contributed by AdagIA Team

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