--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I used to take on trust a man's deeds…" description: "\"I used to take on trust a man's deeds after having listened to his words. Now having listened to a man's words I go on to observe his deeds.\" — Confucius" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/146/confucius-164_deeds_i-used-to-take-on-trust-a-man-s-deeds-af_872041.jpg" --- # I used to take on trust a man's deeds after having… ![“I used to take on trust a man's deeds after having listened to his words. Now having listened to a man's words I go on to observe his deeds.” quote by Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/146/confucius-164_deeds_i-used-to-take-on-trust-a-man-s-deeds-af_872041.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/146/confucius-164_deeds_i-used-to-take-on-trust-a-man-s-deeds-af_872041.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/146/confucius-164_deeds_i-used-to-take-on-trust-a-man-s-deeds-af_872041.jpg) > “I used to take on trust a man's deeds after having listened to his words. Now having listened to a man's words I go on to observe his deeds.” [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker shifts from trusting words to judging actions, emphasizing the importance of observing behavior over rhetoric. **In simple terms:** Actions matter more than words. Key Takeaway Judge people by deeds, not promises. Themes trust integrity observation wisdom leadership Mood reflective thoughtful Type philosophical ethical When to use this quote - hiring decisions - political analysis - personal relationships - leadership evaluation Key Concepts confucian ethics behavioral consistency critical thinking Questions to Reflect On - How do you verify someone's sincerity? - When should you give weight to words? A Different Perspective Words can still hold value in context. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Deeds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deeds/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Trust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trust/) ## Related quotes > [If we divine a discrepancy between a man's words and his character, the whole impression of him becomes broken and painful; he revolts the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-horton-cooley/if-we-divine-a-discrepancy-between-a-man-s-words-and-his-character/) [Charles Horton Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-horton-cooley/) > [Learn the value of a man's words and expressions, and you know him. Each man has a measure of his own for everything; this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-kaspar-lavater/learn-the-value-of-a-man-s-words-and-expressions-and-you-know-him/) [Johann Kaspar Lavater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-kaspar-lavater/) > ['Tis better that a man's own works, than that another man's words should praise him](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-estrange/tis-better-that-a-man-s-own-works-than-that-another-man-s-words/) L Estrange > [...There are also those who inadvertently grant power to another man's words by continuously trying to spite him. 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The words are not the man, and yet they reveal him faithfully and are to be identified…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-d-wilson/a-man-s-words-reveal-first-the-man-the-words-are-not-the-man-and-yet/) [N.D. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-d-wilson/) > [“Do you have a leather jacket? One for a ten-year-old boy?" I asked the man selling leather jackets and gloves in Covent Garden, London.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-joybell-c/do-you-have-a-leather-jacket-one-for-a-ten-year-old-boy-i-asked-the/) [C. JoyBell C](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-joybell-c/) > [“I want to prove myself, but not to impress others. I want to challenge myself, but not to struggle. I want to matter, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niklaus-vestalla/i-want-to-prove-myself-but-not-to-impress-others-i-want-to-challenge/) Niklaus Vestalla > [“A drunk man's words were a sobber man's thoughts”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-lynn/a-drunk-man-s-words-were-a-sobber-man-s-thoughts/) [J. Lynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-lynn/) > [“Listen: this story's one you ought to know, You'll reap the consequence of what you sow. This fleeting world is not the world where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/firdowsi/listen-this-story-s-one-you-ought-to-know-you-ll-reap-the-consequence/) Firdowsi > [Man's words are mere breath, but the word of the Lord is spirit and life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/man-s-words-are-mere-breath-but-the-word-of-the-lord-is-spirit-and/) [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) > [Listen to a man's words and look at the pupil of his eye. How can a man conceal his character?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mencius/listen-to-a-man-s-words-and-look-at-the-pupil-of-his-eye-how-can-a/) [Mencius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mencius/) > [They think they know my thoughts, but they don't know the least, if they listened to the words they'd find the message that's beneath…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cage-the-elephant/they-think-they-know-my-thoughts-but-they-don-t-know-the-least-if/) [Cage The Elephant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cage-the-elephant/) > [I listened as the words became sentences and the sentences became pages and the pages became feelings and voices and places and people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-donnelly/i-listened-as-the-words-became-sentences-and-the-sentences-became/) [Jennifer Donnelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-donnelly/) ## More by Confucius > [Attack the evil that is within yourself, rather than attacking the evil that is in others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/attack-the-evil-that-is-within-yourself-rather-than-attacking-the/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [The superior man is distressed by his want (lack) of ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/the-superior-man-is-distressed-by-his-want-lack-of-ability/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [In ancient times, those who wished to illuminate the world with virtue first brought order to their nations. Wishing to order well their nations,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/in-ancient-times-those-who-wished-to-illuminate-the-world-with-virtue/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [Better than the one who knows what is right is the one who loves what is right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/better-than-the-one-who-knows-what-is-right-is-the-one-who-loves-what/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [Knowledge is merely brilliance in organization of ideas and not wisdom. The truly wise person goes beyond knowledge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/knowledge-is-merely-brilliance-in-organization-of-ideas-and-not/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [I live in a very small house, but my windows look out on a very large world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/i-live-in-a-very-small-house-but-my-windows-look-out-on-a-very-large/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [To rule a country of a thousand chariots, there must be reverent attention to business, and sincerity; economy in expenditure, and love for men;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/to-rule-a-country-of-a-thousand-chariots-there-must-be-reverent/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [The real fault is to have faults and not amend them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/the-real-fault-is-to-have-faults-and-not-amend-them/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [To know what you know and what you do not know, that is true knowledge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/to-know-what-you-know-and-what-you-do-not-know-that-is-true-knowledge/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [A picture is poem without words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/a-picture-is-poem-without-words/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [Heaven means to be one with God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/heaven-means-to-be-one-with-god/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [Does Heaven ever speak? The four seasons come and go, and all creatures thrive and grow. Does Heaven ever speak!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/does-heaven-ever-speak-the-four-seasons-come-and-go-and-all-creatures/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [To study and at times practice what one has learned, is this not a pleasure?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/to-study-and-at-times-practice-what-one-has-learned-is-this-not-a/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [Recompense injury with justice, and recompense kindness with kindness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/recompense-injury-with-justice-and-recompense-kindness-with-kindness/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [There is only one thing in life which never changes, and it is change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/there-is-only-one-thing-in-life-which-never-changes-and-it-is-change/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) [Explore all 1,019 Confucius quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) ## More Deeds quotes > [If ever I did a man any goodof course it was something exceptional and insignificant compared with the good or evil which I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/if-ever-i-did-a-man-any-goodof-course-it-was-something-exceptional/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [When Allah puts barakah (His blessings) in something, it will come beyond your expectations- never underestimate the power of one good deed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nouman-ali-khan/when-allah-puts-barakah-his-blessings-in-something-it-will-come/) [Nouman Ali Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nouman-ali-khan/) > [Time often serves to justify a deed which seems at first unjustifiable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-p-ryan/time-often-serves-to-justify-a-deed-which-seems-at-first-unjustifiable/) Donald P. Ryan > [When deeds speak, words are nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-joseph-proudhon/when-deeds-speak-words-are-nothing/) [Pierre-Joseph Proudhon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-joseph-proudhon/) > [Somehow, what's in our hearts, good or bad is eventually translated into words and deeds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-stanley/somehow-what-s-in-our-hearts-good-or-bad-is-eventually-translated/) [Andy Stanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-stanley/) > [Honest people don't hide their deeds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-bronte/honest-people-don-t-hide-their-deeds/) [Emily Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-bronte/) > [Mechanical instruments, potentially a vehicle of rational human purposes, are scarcely a blessing when they enable the gossip of the village idiot and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-mumford/mechanical-instruments-potentially-a-vehicle-of-rational-human/) [Lewis Mumford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-mumford/) > [Tis e'er the wont of simple folk to prize the deed and o'erlook the motive, and of learned folk to discount the deed and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barth/tis-e-er-the-wont-of-simple-folk-to-prize-the-deed-and-o-erlook-the/) [John Barth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barth/) > [How oft the sight of means to do ill deeds makes ill deeds done!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/how-oft-the-sight-of-means-to-do-ill-deeds-makes-ill-deeds-done/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [A nation of character is filled with citizens who gradually build lives based on the living awareness that their deeds are judged by eyes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-keyes/a-nation-of-character-is-filled-with-citizens-who-gradually-build/) [Alan Keyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-keyes/) > [Time, which wears down and diminishes all things, augments and increases good deeds, because a good turn liberally offered to a reasonable man grows…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-rabelais/time-which-wears-down-and-diminishes-all-things-augments-and/) [Francois Rabelais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-rabelais/) > [Alas, you don't need monsters for monstrous deeds to be accomplished.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zygmunt-bauman/alas-you-don-t-need-monsters-for-monstrous-deeds-to-be-accomplished/) [Zygmunt Bauman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zygmunt-bauman/) > [I rejoice that the reign of Christ is such, while it thrills the soul with emotions, and opens before the highest intellect the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-simpson/i-rejoice-that-the-reign-of-christ-is-such-while-it-thrills-the-soul/) [Matthew Simpson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-simpson/) > [The final estimate of men shows that history cares not an iota for the rank or title a man has borne, or the office…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-oswald-sanders/the-final-estimate-of-men-shows-that-history-cares-not-an-iota-for/) [J. Oswald Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-oswald-sanders/) > [The World's a Printing-House, our words, our thoughts, Our deeds, are characters of several sizes. Each soul is a Compos'tor, of whose faults The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/the-world-s-a-printing-house-our-words-our-thoughts-our-deeds-are/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) [Browse all 2,029 Deeds quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deeds/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I used to take on trust a man's deeds after having listened to his words. 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