--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Never trust an alchemist. Unless he is…" description: "\"“Never trust an alchemist. Unless he is smiling. In that case, disbelieve him.”\" — J.L. Burger" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d21/j-l-burger-101019_trust_never-trust-an-alchemist-unless-he-is-sm_1333857.jpg" --- # Never trust an alchemist. Unless he is smiling. In that… ![“Never trust an alchemist. Unless he is smiling. In that case, disbelieve him.” quote by J.L. Burger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d21/j-l-burger-101019_trust_never-trust-an-alchemist-unless-he-is-sm_1333857.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d21/j-l-burger-101019_trust_never-trust-an-alchemist-unless-he-is-sm_1333857.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d21/j-l-burger-101019_trust_never-trust-an-alchemist-unless-he-is-sm_1333857.jpg) > ““Never trust an alchemist. Unless he is smiling. In that case, disbelieve him.”” [J.L. Burger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-l-burger/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Warns against trusting alchemists unless they smile, then distrust them. **In simple terms:** Smile may hide deceit. Key Takeaway Question trust based on appearance. Themes skepticism trust humor Mood cautious witty Type advice humorous When to use this quote - business negotiations - personal relationships - online interactions Key Concepts critical thinking social cues deception detection Questions to Reflect On - Can a smile be trustworthy? - What other signals indicate honesty? A Different Perspective Humor can be manipulative. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Alchemist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alchemist/) [Alchemist Unless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alchemist-unless-4485041/) [Disbelieve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disbelieve/) [Trust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trust/) [Trust Alchemist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trust-alchemist-4485040/) [Unless Smiling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unless-smiling-4485042/) ## Related quotes > [It cannot be considered success unless you are smiling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-de-sena/it-cannot-be-considered-success-unless-you-are-smiling/) [Joe De Sena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-de-sena/) > [So many of us know what we are against, but not what we are for-what we disbelieve, not what we believe. A negative life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-fort-newton/so-many-of-us-know-what-we-are-against-but-not-what-we-are-for-what/) [Joseph Fort Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-fort-newton/) > [“To explain is to disbelieve.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fernando-pessoa/to-explain-is-to-disbelieve/) [Fernando Pessoa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fernando-pessoa/) > [“Whether you believe or disbelieve. You will be on the same boat. You reach nowhere”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/srinivart/whether-you-believe-or-disbelieve-you-will-be-on-the-same-boat-you/) [Srinivart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/srinivart/) > [“Hope greets your desires warmly while doubts insult your efforts bitterly!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/hope-greets-your-desires-warmly-while-doubts-insult-your-efforts/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [“28. How can you disbelieve in Allaah?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-muhammad-muhsin-khan/28-how-can-you-disbelieve-in-allaah/) [Dr Muhammad Muhsin Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-muhammad-muhsin-khan/) > [No iron chain, or outward force of any kind, can ever compel the soul of a person to believe or to disbelieve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/no-iron-chain-or-outward-force-of-any-kind-can-ever-compel-the-soul/) [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) > [“Atheism is a lack of belief...what about the powers of darkness, and that of light, will you trace both to nothing? Then you must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/atheism-is-a-lack-of-belief-what-about-the-powers-of-darkness-and/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [We are, I know not how, double in ourselves, so that what we believe we disbelieve, and cannot rid ourselves of what we condemn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/we-are-i-know-not-how-double-in-ourselves-so-that-what-we-believe-we/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [They who disbelieve in virtue because man has never been found perfect, might as reasonably deny the sun because it is not always noon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augustus-william-hare/they-who-disbelieve-in-virtue-because-man-has-never-been-found/) [Augustus William Hare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augustus-william-hare/) > [The will to disbelieve is the strongest deterrent to wider horizons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-holzer/the-will-to-disbelieve-is-the-strongest-deterrent-to-wider-horizons/) [Hans Holzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-holzer/) > [I cannot understand how a man can appear in print claiming to disbelieve everything that he presupposes when he puts on the surplice. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/i-cannot-understand-how-a-man-can-appear-in-print-claiming-to/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [“People generally believe that which they wish to believe and disbelieve that which is unpleasant.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-l-petersen/people-generally-believe-that-which-they-wish-to-believe-and/) [Rodney L. Petersen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-l-petersen/) > [“... I don't believe in ghosts - not the scary white sheet, boogie-woogie type of ghost anyway. And yet ... I don't disbelieve either.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-tayleur/i-don-t-believe-in-ghosts-not-the-scary-white-sheet-boogie-woogie/) [Karen Tayleur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-tayleur/) > [“Whether you believe or disbelieve. You reach nowhere”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/srinivart/whether-you-believe-or-disbelieve-you-reach-nowhere/) [Srinivart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/srinivart/) ## More by J.L. Burger > [“I have dedicated my life to the noble sciences of mathematics, astrology, physics, alchemy, and magic.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-l-burger/i-have-dedicated-my-life-to-the-noble-sciences-of-mathematics/) [J.L. Burger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-l-burger/) [Explore all 2 J.L. Burger quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-l-burger/) ## More Alchemist quotes > [When we love, it is not necessary to understand what is happening outside, because everything happens inside us instead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/when-we-love-it-is-not-necessary-to-understand-what-is-happening/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [The secret is here in the present. If you pay attention to the present, you can improve upon it. And, if you improve on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/the-secret-is-here-in-the-present-if-you-pay-attention-to-the-present/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [Soft fantasy worlds have a much looser cause-and-effect relationship. Alchemists can turn lead into gold and nobody wonders about how it will impact the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/soft-fantasy-worlds-have-a-much-looser-cause-and-effect-relationship/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [It's not what enters men's mouth that is evil," said the alchemist. It's what comes out of their mouths that is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/it-s-not-what-enters-men-s-mouth-that-is-evil-said-the-alchemist-it-s/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [Even mistaken hypotheses and theories are of use in leading to discoveries. This remark is true in all the sciences. 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Don't call him a dramaturge, call…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-gambaccini/good-intentions-do-not-guarantee-good-results-somehow-andrew-keates/) [Paul Gambaccini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-gambaccini/) > [When we send Love in response to hate, we become spiritual alchemists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-dyer/when-we-send-love-in-response-to-hate-we-become-spiritual-alchemists/) [Wayne Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-dyer/) > [What about you, Sage? I know we don't have to worry about you violating the dress code. Did you have fun at your Alchemist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/what-about-you-sage-i-know-we-don-t-have-to-worry-about-you-violating/) [Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/) > [“You'll have a hard time getting any Alchemist to admit that. But I can say you're okay for an irreverent party boy with occasional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/you-ll-have-a-hard-time-getting-any-alchemist-to-admit-that-but-i-can/) [Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/) > [“Setiap pencarian dimulai dengan keberuntungan bagi sang pemula. Dan setiap pencarian diakhiri dengan ujian berat bagi si pemenang.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/setiap-pencarian-dimulai-dengan-keberuntungan-bagi-sang-pemula-dan/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [To obtain something, something of equal value must be given.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hiromu-arakawa/to-obtain-something-something-of-equal-value-must-be-given/) [Hiromu Arakawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hiromu-arakawa/) > [Perfect alchemists I keep who can transmute substances without end, and thus the corner of my garden is an inexhaustible treasure-chest. Here you can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/perfect-alchemists-i-keep-who-can-transmute-substances-without-end/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [All that mattered was that he was Adrian, my Adrian. My match. 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