--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The key to high-quality communication is…" description: "\"The key to high-quality communication is trust, and it's hard to trust somebody that you don't know.\" — Ben Horowitz" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e2/ben-horowitz-1791_communication_the-key-to-high-quality-communication-is_2362949.png" --- # The key to high-quality communication is trust, and it's… ![“The key to high-quality communication is trust, and it's hard to trust somebody that you don't know.” quote by Ben Horowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e2/ben-horowitz-1791_communication_the-key-to-high-quality-communication-is_2362949.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e2/ben-horowitz-1791_communication_the-key-to-high-quality-communication-is_2362949.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e2/ben-horowitz-1791_communication_the-key-to-high-quality-communication-is_2362949.png) > “The key to high-quality communication is trust, and it's hard to trust somebody that you don't know.” [Ben Horowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-horowitz/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Trust is the foundation of effective communication; without it, messages are filtered by suspicion. **In simple terms:** Trust is essential for good communication. Key Takeaway Build trust first. Themes communication trust leadership Mood professional strategic Type advisory motivational When to use this quote - Team meetings - client negotiations - remote work - conflict resolution Key Concepts Social psychology organizational behavior Questions to Reflect On - What steps can you take to earn trust quickly? - How do you repair trust after a breach? A Different Perspective Trust takes time and can be broken easily. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Communication](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communication/) [Trust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trust/) ## Related quotes > [The key to high-quality communication is trust, and its hard to trust somebody that you dont know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-horowitz/the-key-to-high-quality-communication-is-trust-and-its-hard-to-trust/) [Ben Horowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-horowitz/) > [It's hard to trust somebody when the one person who you completely opened up to is the person who later completely betrayed you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-s-hard-to-trust-somebody-when-the-one-person-who-you-completely/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It's hard to trust and it's hard to cry. It's hard to love and later say goodbye. But it's much harder to let go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/goodie/it-s-hard-to-trust-and-it-s-hard-to-cry-it-s-hard-to-love-and-later/) [Goodie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/goodie/) > [Love is hard To find, trust is hard to get, lies are easy to tell, hearts are easily broken and I love you is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/love-is-hard-to-find-trust-is-hard-to-get-lies-are-easy-to-tell/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Da used to say that lies were easy, but trust was hard. Trust is like faith: it can turn people into believers, but every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-schwab/da-used-to-say-that-lies-were-easy-but-trust-was-hard-trust-is-like/) [Victoria Schwab](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-schwab/) > [Trust has always been a hard issue in my life, and when I was with the UFC, it was hard for me to trust…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tito-ortiz/trust-has-always-been-a-hard-issue-in-my-life-and-when-i-was-with-the/) [Tito Ortiz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tito-ortiz/) > [Once You Lose Someones Trust ..Its Hard For Them To Ever Trust You Again ..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tinku-razoria/once-you-lose-someones-trust-its-hard-for-them-to-ever-trust-you-again/) [Tinku Razoria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tinku-razoria/) > [“It was damn hard to trust a boy with a smile like that.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alwyn-hamilton/it-was-damn-hard-to-trust-a-boy-with-a-smile-like-that/) [Alwyn Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alwyn-hamilton/) > [Liars are hard to trust, even if its the love of your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bubbles/liars-are-hard-to-trust-even-if-its-the-love-of-your-life/) [Bubbles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bubbles/) > [Nothing sucks more than being disappointed with yourself. Why is it so hard to trust your instincts, I wonder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/nothing-sucks-more-than-being-disappointed-with-yourself-why-is-it-so/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [People ask me why is it so hard to trust people. Then I ask them why is it so hard to keep a promise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/people-ask-me-why-is-it-so-hard-to-trust-people-then-i-ask-them-why/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [People ask me why is it hard to trust people. I ask them why is it so hard to keep a promise?..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/people-ask-me-why-is-it-hard-to-trust-people-i-ask-them-why-is-it-so/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Somebody ask me why it's so hard to trust people, and I ask them why is it so hard to keep a promise?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yingkaii/somebody-ask-me-why-it-s-so-hard-to-trust-people-and-i-ask-them-why/) [Yingkaii](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yingkaii/) > [“..hard to trust that after so much had been taken, so much could still be received.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tatjana-soli/hard-to-trust-that-after-so-much-had-been-taken-so-much-could-still/) [Tatjana Soli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tatjana-soli/) > [When you get broken once then its hard to trust someone else. Even if they do truly love you .](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-you-get-broken-once-then-its-hard-to-trust-someone-else-even-if/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Ben Horowitz > [There is no silver bullet. There are always options and the options have consequences.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-horowitz/there-is-no-silver-bullet-there-are-always-options-and-the-options/) [Ben Horowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-horowitz/) > [Groupon looked like a very high valuation, but any investment in a great company at any stage is almost always a good investment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-horowitz/groupon-looked-like-a-very-high-valuation-but-any-investment-in-a/) [Ben Horowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-horowitz/) > [By far the most difficult skill I learned as a C.E.O. was the ability to manage my own psychology. Organizational design, process design, metrics,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-horowitz/by-far-the-most-difficult-skill-i-learned-as-a-c-e-o-was-the-ability/) [Ben Horowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-horowitz/) > [“The hard thing is when those “great people” develop a sense of entitlement and start demanding unreasonable things. The hard thing isn’t setting up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-horowitz/the-hard-thing-is-when-those-great-people-develop-a-sense-of/) [Ben Horowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-horowitz/) > [“As painful as it might be, I knew that we had to get into the broader market in order to understand it well enough…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-horowitz/as-painful-as-it-might-be-i-knew-that-we-had-to-get-into-the-broader/) [Ben Horowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-horowitz/) > [“On my grandfather’s tombstone, you will find his favorite Marx quote: “Life is struggle.” I believe that within that quote lies the most important…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-horowitz/on-my-grandfather-s-tombstone-you-will-find-his-favorite-marx-quote/) [Ben Horowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-horowitz/) > [“Bill Campbell: "It's not about the money." Ben Horowitz: "What's it about, Bill?" Bill: "It's about the FUCKING money.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-horowitz/bill-campbell-it-s-not-about-the-money-ben-horowitz-what-s-it-about/) [Ben Horowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-horowitz/) > [When the value of the company clearly has fallen below what its assets are worth, having a shareholder who says, 'Let's get a better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-horowitz/when-the-value-of-the-company-clearly-has-fallen-below-what-its/) [Ben Horowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-horowitz/) > [One person is never as stupid as a group of people. That's why they have lynch mobs, not lynch individuals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-horowitz/one-person-is-never-as-stupid-as-a-group-of-people-that-s-why-they/) [Ben Horowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-horowitz/) > [“out the right product is the innovator’s job, not the customer’s job.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-horowitz/out-the-right-product-is-the-innovator-s-job-not-the-customer-s-job/) [Ben Horowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-horowitz/) > [As companies move to web-based computing they get a lot more servers, which are difficult to manage and control. All kinds of problems can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-horowitz/as-companies-move-to-web-based-computing-they-get-a-lot-more-servers/) [Ben Horowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-horowitz/) > [Breakthrough ideas usually come from guys who look like they're hallucinating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-horowitz/breakthrough-ideas-usually-come-from-guys-who-look-like-they-re/) [Ben Horowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-horowitz/) > [When screening engineers from other companies, its smart to value engineers from great companies more than those from mediocre companies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-horowitz/when-screening-engineers-from-other-companies-its-smart-to-value/) [Ben Horowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-horowitz/) > [“No matter who you are, you need two kinds of friends in your life. The first kind is one you can call when something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-horowitz/no-matter-who-you-are-you-need-two-kinds-of-friends-in-your-life-the/) [Ben Horowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-horowitz/) > [“The difference between being mediocre and magical is often the difference between letting people take creative risk and holding them too tightly accountable. Accountability…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-horowitz/the-difference-between-being-mediocre-and-magical-is-often-the/) [Ben Horowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-horowitz/) [Explore all 207 Ben Horowitz quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-horowitz/) ## More Communication quotes > [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. It makes a mockery of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-robison/some-people-still-believe-you-should-just-fall-in-line-with-what-s/) [Emily Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-robison/) > [The problem posed by indirect speech acts is the problem of how it is possible for the speaker to say one thing and mean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-searle/the-problem-posed-by-indirect-speech-acts-is-the-problem-of-how-it-is/) [John Searle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-searle/) > [We should have a conversation when we hang up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benedict-cumberbatch/we-should-have-a-conversation-when-we-hang-up/) [Benedict Cumberbatch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benedict-cumberbatch/) > [Sing like no one's listening, love like you've never been hurt, dance like nobody's watching, and live like its heaven on earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/sing-like-no-one-s-listening-love-like-you-ve-never-been-hurt-dance/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [A poet is wounded into speech, and he examines these wounds, meticulously, to discover how to heal them. The bad poet harangues at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/a-poet-is-wounded-into-speech-and-he-examines-these-wounds/) [Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) > [“To engage in dialogue is to serve others via whatever is real inside you; to engage in debate is to ultimately serve the illusions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oli-anderson/to-engage-in-dialogue-is-to-serve-others-via-whatever-is-real-inside/) [Oli Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oli-anderson/) > [What it comes down to for me is this: Will the technologies of communication in our culture, serve to enlighten us and help us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-waters/what-it-comes-down-to-for-me-is-this-will-the-technologies-of/) [Roger Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-waters/) > [In dialogue, there is opposition, yes, but no head-on collision. Smashing heads does not open minds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-tannen/in-dialogue-there-is-opposition-yes-but-no-head-on-collision-smashing/) [Deborah Tannen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-tannen/) > [A dialogue is very important. It is a form of communication in which question and answer continue till a question is left without an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/a-dialogue-is-very-important-it-is-a-form-of-communication-in-which/) [Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/) > [I get afraid of the dark if I'm in a great deal of dark, and I have to move around inside of that fear...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emil-ferris/i-get-afraid-of-the-dark-if-i-m-in-a-great-deal-of-dark-and-i-have-to/) [Emil Ferris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emil-ferris/) > [I've been in a serious conversation with one of my children, and a fan has come up. I've been in a public bathroom and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-reddy/i-ve-been-in-a-serious-conversation-with-one-of-my-children-and-a-fan/) [Helen Reddy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-reddy/) > [Life as we know it is fundamentally unsatisfying. I think most folks feel this to be true. They know that a life of aimless…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-yates/life-as-we-know-it-is-fundamentally-unsatisfying-i-think-most-folks/) [Michael Yates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-yates/) > [Disability, in general, hasn't been included in the conversation about inclusivity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-winston-george/disability-in-general-hasn-t-been-included-in-the-conversation-about/) [Jason Winston George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-winston-george/) > [“Women will be at least 50 percent of the communications community workforce … from executive suite to interns. Why? The “integrated” agency will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yoram-wind/women-will-be-at-least-50-percent-of-the-communications-community/) Yoram Wind > [There are certain things you must not say in spite of the fact that supposedly democracy means free speech. No. You are not allowed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-eubank-sr/there-are-certain-things-you-must-not-say-in-spite-of-the-fact-that/) [Chris Eubank Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-eubank-sr/) [Browse all 21,506 Communication quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communication/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The key to high-quality communication is trust, and it's hard to trust somebody that you don't know.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ben Horowitz" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-horowitz/the-key-to-high-quality-communication-is-trust-and-it-s-hard-to-trust/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Communication" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-horowitz/the-key-to-high-quality-communication-is-trust-and-it-s-hard-to-trust/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e2/ben-horowitz-1791_communication_the-key-to-high-quality-communication-is_2362949.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e2/ben-horowitz-1791_communication_the-key-to-high-quality-communication-is_2362949.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e2/ben-horowitz-1791_communication_the-key-to-high-quality-communication-is_2362949.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The key to high-quality communication is trust, and it's hard to trust somebody that you don't know.” — Ben Horowitz", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Ben Horowitz", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-horowitz/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The key to high-quality communication is...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-horowitz/the-key-to-high-quality-communication-is-trust-and-it-s-hard-to-trust/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-horowitz/the-key-to-high-quality-communication-is-trust-and-it-s-hard-to-trust/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```