--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The world's greatest need . . . is mutual…" description: "\"The world's greatest need . . . is mutual confidence. No human being ever knows all the secrets of another's heart. Yet there is enough confidence betw..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/358/arnold-j-toynbee-12041_buyers_the-world-s-greatest-need-is-mutual-conf_2317745.jpg" --- # The world's greatest need . . . is mutual confidence. No… ![“The world's greatest need . . . is mutual confidence. No human being ever knows all the secrets of another's heart. Yet there is enough confidence between mother and child, husband and wife, buyer and seller . . . to make social life a practical possibility. Confidence may be risky, but it is…” quote by Arnold J. Toynbee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/358/arnold-j-toynbee-12041_buyers_the-world-s-greatest-need-is-mutual-conf_2317745.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/358/arnold-j-toynbee-12041_buyers_the-world-s-greatest-need-is-mutual-conf_2317745.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/358/arnold-j-toynbee-12041_buyers_the-world-s-greatest-need-is-mutual-conf_2317745.jpg) > “The world's greatest need . . . is mutual confidence. No human being ever knows all the secrets of another's heart. Yet there is enough confidence between mother and child, husband and wife, buyer and seller . . . to make social life a practical possibility. Confidence may be risky, but it is nothing like so risky as mistrust.” [Arnold J. Toynbee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-j-toynbee/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Mutual confidence is essential for functional societies; mistrust is far more dangerous than the risks of trusting. **In simple terms:** Trust builds society; mistrust harms it. Key Takeaway Cultivate trust in relationships. Themes trust social cohesion risk Mood hopeful serious Type philosophical practical When to use this quote - family life - business partnerships - community projects - political negotiations Key Concepts sociology philosophy Questions to Reflect On - What relationships need more trust? - How do you balance trust and caution? A Different Perspective Trust can be broken, leading to vulnerability. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Buyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/buyers/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Confidence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confidence/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [Human beings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-beings/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Husband](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/husband/) [Husband and wife](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/husband-and-wife/) [Marriage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marriage/) [Mother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mother/) [Mother and child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mother-and-child/) [Possibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/possibility/) [Secret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/secret/) [Social](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/social/) [Social life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/social-life/) [Trust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trust/) [Wife](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wife/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [I think my confidence and competitiveness - that will - comes from my mother. I always knew my mom loved me, and she always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-j-redick/i-think-my-confidence-and-competitiveness-that-will-comes-from-my/) [J. J. Redick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-j-redick/) > [I had such a nurturing team of midwives looking after me with my first little girl, and their support gave me so much confidence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-piper/i-had-such-a-nurturing-team-of-midwives-looking-after-me-with-my/) [Katie Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-piper/) > [“Strategic trust” is a term that evades precise definition, but in my view, it refers to an evolving sense of mutual confidence between nations…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sbyudhoyono/strategic-trust-is-a-term-that-evades-precise-definition-but-in-my/) [SBYudhoyono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sbyudhoyono/) > [Success in business implies optimism, mutual confidence, and fair play. A business man must hold a high opinion of the worth of what he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rh-cabell/success-in-business-implies-optimism-mutual-confidence-and-fair-play/) RH Cabell > [No farmer-sportsman group is stronger than the ties of mutual confidence and enthusiasm which bind its members.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldo-leopold/no-farmer-sportsman-group-is-stronger-than-the-ties-of-mutual/) [Aldo Leopold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldo-leopold/) > [Sensual pleasure passes and vanishes, but the friendship between us, the mutual confidence, the delight of the heart, the enchantment of the soul, these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/sensual-pleasure-passes-and-vanishes-but-the-friendship-between-us/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [“Mutual confidence is the pillar of friendship.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/mutual-confidence-is-the-pillar-of-friendship/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The mutual confidence on which all else depends can be maintained only by an open mind and a brave reliance upon free discussion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/learned-hand/the-mutual-confidence-on-which-all-else-depends-can-be-maintained/) [Learned Hand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/learned-hand/) > [“she felt there was between them an unexpected mutual confidence, confidence of the kind that could spring up between two strangers who found themselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-scott/she-felt-there-was-between-them-an-unexpected-mutual-confidence/) [Paul Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-scott/) > [We do not intend to part from the Americans and we do not intend to be satellites. I am sure they do not want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-macmillan/we-do-not-intend-to-part-from-the-americans-and-we-do-not-intend-to/) [Harold MacMillan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-macmillan/) > [“…trust requires much more than affection; it depends on mutual confidence—strength, not niceness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vicki-constantine-croke/trust-requires-much-more-than-affection-it-depends-on-mutual/) Vicki Constantine Croke > [That in affairs of very considerable importance men should deal with one another with satisfaction of mind, and mutual confidence, they must receive competent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-barrow/that-in-affairs-of-very-considerable-importance-men-should-deal-with/) [Isaac Barrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-barrow/) > [“faith in the eventual supremacy of reason has become so timid that we dare not enter our convictions in the open lists, to win…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-algren/faith-in-the-eventual-supremacy-of-reason-has-become-so-timid-that-we/) [Nelson Algren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-algren/) > [By mutual confidence and mutual aid - great deeds are done, and great discoveries made](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/by-mutual-confidence-and-mutual-aid-great-deeds-are-done-and-great/) [Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/) > [I have overlived the generation with which mutual labors & perils begat mutual confidence and influence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/i-have-overlived-the-generation-with-which-mutual-labors-perils-begat/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) ## More by Arnold J. Toynbee > [Apathy can be overcome by enthusiasm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-j-toynbee/apathy-can-be-overcome-by-enthusiasm/) [Arnold J. Toynbee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-j-toynbee/) > [I do not believe that civilizations have to die because civilization is not an organism. It is a product of wills.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-j-toynbee/i-do-not-believe-that-civilizations-have-to-die-because-civilization/) [Arnold J. Toynbee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-j-toynbee/) > [Material power that is not counterbalanced by adequate spiritual power, that is, by love and wisdom, is a curse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-j-toynbee/material-power-that-is-not-counterbalanced-by-adequate-spiritual/) [Arnold J. Toynbee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-j-toynbee/) > [It is already becoming clear that a chapter which had a Western beginning will have to have an Indian ending if it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-j-toynbee/it-is-already-becoming-clear-that-a-chapter-which-had-a-western/) [Arnold J. Toynbee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-j-toynbee/) > [The absolute value of love makes life worth while, and so makes Man's strange and difficult situation acceptable. Love cannot save life from death;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-j-toynbee/the-absolute-value-of-love-makes-life-worth-while-and-so-makes-man-s/) [Arnold J. Toynbee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-j-toynbee/) > [Religion holds the solution to all problems of human relationship, whether they are between parents and children or nation and nation. Sooner or later,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-j-toynbee/religion-holds-the-solution-to-all-problems-of-human-relationship/) [Arnold J. Toynbee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-j-toynbee/) > [We human beings do have some genuine freedom of choice and therefore some effective control over our own destinies. I am not a determinist.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-j-toynbee/we-human-beings-do-have-some-genuine-freedom-of-choice-and-therefore/) [Arnold J. Toynbee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-j-toynbee/) > [Our western science is a child of moral virtues; and it must now become the father of further moral virtues if its extraordinary material…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-j-toynbee/our-western-science-is-a-child-of-moral-virtues-and-it-must-now/) [Arnold J. Toynbee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-j-toynbee/) > [The aim of all education is, or should be, to teach people to educate themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-j-toynbee/the-aim-of-all-education-is-or-should-be-to-teach-people-to-educate/) [Arnold J. Toynbee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-j-toynbee/) > [America is a large friendly dog in a small room. Every time it wags its tail it knocks over a chair.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-j-toynbee/america-is-a-large-friendly-dog-in-a-small-room-every-time-it-wags/) [Arnold J. Toynbee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-j-toynbee/) > [The extinction of race consciousness as between Muslims is one of the outstanding achievements of Islam, and in the contemporary world there is, as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-j-toynbee/the-extinction-of-race-consciousness-as-between-muslims-is-one-of-the/) [Arnold J. Toynbee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-j-toynbee/) > [It is a paradoxical but profoundly true and important principle of life that the most likely way to reach a goal is to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-j-toynbee/it-is-a-paradoxical-but-profoundly-true-and-important-principle-of/) [Arnold J. Toynbee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-j-toynbee/) > [Of the twenty-two civilizations that have appeared in history, nineteen of them collapsed when they reached the moral state the United States is in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-j-toynbee/of-the-twenty-two-civilizations-that-have-appeared-in-history/) [Arnold J. Toynbee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-j-toynbee/) > [The equation of religion with belief is rather recent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-j-toynbee/the-equation-of-religion-with-belief-is-rather-recent/) [Arnold J. Toynbee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-j-toynbee/) > [The course of human history consists of a series of encounters between individual human beings and God in which each man and woman or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-j-toynbee/the-course-of-human-history-consists-of-a-series-of-encounters/) [Arnold J. Toynbee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-j-toynbee/) [Explore all 56 Arnold J. Toynbee quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-j-toynbee/) ## More Buyers quotes > [I would like to see a lot more buyers and also a lot less bargaining by local buyers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nandita-mahtani/i-would-like-to-see-a-lot-more-buyers-and-also-a-lot-less-bargaining/) [Nandita Mahtani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nandita-mahtani/) > [The most common cause of low prices is pessimism - some times pervasive, some times specific to a company or industry. We want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/the-most-common-cause-of-low-prices-is-pessimism-some-times-pervasive/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) > [As part of our ongoing series of reports on the environment, 'America Goes Green,' we take on the question that can make otherwise competent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-williams/as-part-of-our-ongoing-series-of-reports-on-the-environment-america/) [Brian Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-williams/) > [Some ticket buyers think they don't like Jews.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-l-warner/some-ticket-buyers-think-they-don-t-like-jews/) Jack L. Warner > [“the single biggest outcome of the Internet has been little understood: buyers are the winners.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-pecaut/the-single-biggest-outcome-of-the-internet-has-been-little-understood/) [Daniel Pecaut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-pecaut/) > [Men's clothing is more pure in design. It's more simple and has no decoration. Women want that. When I started designing, I wanted to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yohji-yamamoto/men-s-clothing-is-more-pure-in-design-it-s-more-simple-and-has-no/) [Yohji Yamamoto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yohji-yamamoto/) > [Grant me profits only, grant me the joy of profit made, and see to it that I enjoy cheating the buyer!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/grant-me-profits-only-grant-me-the-joy-of-profit-made-and-see-to-it/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [Being in Loyola College exposed me to other options and gave me confidence, apart from the freedom to bunk classes. I became a merchandiser…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suriya/being-in-loyola-college-exposed-me-to-other-options-and-gave-me/) [Suriya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suriya/) > [“But, learn that although all men are for sale, they don’t sell themselves to all buyers.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-shellabarger/but-learn-that-although-all-men-are-for-sale-they-don-t-sell/) [Samuel Shellabarger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-shellabarger/) > [A jury could very well conclude that this is a case of buyer's remorse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-buck/a-jury-could-very-well-conclude-that-this-is-a-case-of-buyer-s-remorse/) [Ken Buck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-buck/) > [It's always smart to know your market - what kind of buyers are looking in your neighborhood? What have other houses sold for in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-scott/it-s-always-smart-to-know-your-market-what-kind-of-buyers-are-looking/) [Drew Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-scott/) > [And old Dave, he'd go up to his room, y'understand, put on his green velvet slippers - I'll never forget - and pick up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-miller/and-old-dave-he-d-go-up-to-his-room-y-understand-put-on-his-green/) [Arthur Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-miller/) > [During the early 1960s, I decided to supplement research support for quantitative economic studies at Pennsylvania by selling econometric forecasts to private and public…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/during-the-early-1960s-i-decided-to-supplement-research-support-for/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Smart art galleries know it's not the words on paper but the emotion in the piece that makes clients pull out the credit card…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-white/smart-art-galleries-know-it-s-not-the-words-on-paper-but-the-emotion/) [Jack White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-white/) > [There's more student debt than credit card debt! Everywhere I go, I run into young people trying to build careers while they keep shelling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-collins/there-s-more-student-debt-than-credit-card-debt-everywhere-i-go-i-run/) [Gail Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-collins/) [Browse all 202 Buyers quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/buyers/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The world's greatest need . . . is mutual confidence. No human being ever knows all the secrets of another's heart. Yet there is enough confidence between mother and child, husband and wife, buyer and seller . . . to make social life a practical possibility. Confidence may be risky, but it is nothing like so risky as mistrust.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Arnold J. 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