--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The bottom line is plain: you cannot…" description: "\"“The bottom line is plain: you cannot safely trust a single word that you hear from the mouth of a police officer who is trying to get you to talk.”\" —..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/75e/james-duane-12142_bottom-line_the-bottom-line-is-plain-you-cannot-safe_2923093.jpg" --- # The bottom line is plain: you cannot safely trust a single… ![“The bottom line is plain: you cannot safely trust a single word that you hear from the mouth of a police officer who is trying to get you to talk.” quote by James Duane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/75e/james-duane-12142_bottom-line_the-bottom-line-is-plain-you-cannot-safe_2923093.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/75e/james-duane-12142_bottom-line_the-bottom-line-is-plain-you-cannot-safe_2923093.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/75e/james-duane-12142_bottom-line_the-bottom-line-is-plain-you-cannot-safe_2923093.jpg) > ““The bottom line is plain: you cannot safely trust a single word that you hear from the mouth of a police officer who is trying to get you to talk.”” [James Duane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-duane/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Police statements should be scrutinized; trust cannot be placed blindly in a single officer’s word. **In simple terms:** Don’t trust a single officer’s word without verification. Key Takeaway Verify information before accepting it. Themes trust law enforcement critical thinking Mood cautious skeptical Type political educational When to use this quote - legal proceedings - media reporting - community meetings - personal safety Key Concepts Skepticism justice Questions to Reflect On - How can we balance skepticism with cooperation? - What safeguards help ensure truthful testimony? A Different Perspective May erode trust in law enforcement overall. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bottom line](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bottom-line/) [Police](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/police/) [Police officer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/police-officer/) ## Related quotes > [A police officer came up to me yesterday and said, 'Where were you between four and six?' I said, 'Kindergarten'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-police-officer-came-up-to-me-yesterday-and-said-where-were-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I've been a police officer for over 20 years, and I've investigated murders and all kinds of different crimes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-seagal/i-ve-been-a-police-officer-for-over-20-years-and-i-ve-investigated/) [Steven Seagal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-seagal/) > [My father was a police officer with the New York Police Department; I've always had a high respect for officers. 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This is the first time I'm playing a dual role - a thief and a police officer!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karthi/everything-is-new-about-siruthai-this-is-the-first-time-i-m-playing-a/) [Karthi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karthi/) > [After I'm done with fighting, I will serve as a police officer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/renato-moicano/after-i-m-done-with-fighting-i-will-serve-as-a-police-officer/) [Renato Moicano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/renato-moicano/) > [“The police will not let a member of the public report a police officer assaulting a person. 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Expect to get the blue brotherhood runaround.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/witnessed-police-officer-misconduct-expect-to-get-the-blue/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [I had a dream, when I was little, to become a police officer and a crime investigator.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katia-winter/i-had-a-dream-when-i-was-little-to-become-a-police-officer-and-a/) [Katia Winter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katia-winter/) > [“It is unfortunate that calling 911 may result in an incompetent or corrupt police officer being sent to you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/it-is-unfortunate-that-calling-911-may-result-in-an-incompetent-or/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [I enjoyed being a police officer; I enjoyed the investigations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-pierson/i-enjoyed-being-a-police-officer-i-enjoyed-the-investigations/) Julia Pierson > [I was a fireman very early on in my life and a police officer, so I'm very militaristic, clean.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rawlings/i-was-a-fireman-very-early-on-in-my-life-and-a-police-officer-so-i-m/) [Richard Rawlings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rawlings/) > [Being a police officer in America is a tough job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johan-renck/being-a-police-officer-in-america-is-a-tough-job/) [Johan Renck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johan-renck/) ## More by James Duane > [“And after Salinas, as we have seen, that means that you cannot simply remain mute in the face of police questioning, but rather must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-duane/and-after-salinas-as-we-have-seen-that-means-that-you-cannot-simply/) [James Duane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-duane/) > [“Memorize these two questions so you will not be tempted to answer any others:   Who are you? What are you doing right here,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-duane/memorize-these-two-questions-so-you-will-not-be-tempted-to-answer-any/) [James Duane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-duane/) > [“If you give the police information that turns out to be inaccurate, and the police mistakenly believe that you were lying to them on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-duane/if-you-give-the-police-information-that-turns-out-to-be-inaccurate/) [James Duane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-duane/) > [“As we can see from all these cases, a promise from the police to give you “help” is the most useless and worthless promise…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-duane/as-we-can-see-from-all-these-cases-a-promise-from-the-police-to-give/) [James Duane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-duane/) > [“In every one of these cases, the police ignored the suspect’s tentative and mealymouthed expressions of interest in a lawyer, persisted in their questioning,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-duane/in-every-one-of-these-cases-the-police-ignored-the-suspect-s/) [James Duane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-duane/) > [“Because of the matrix of rampant horrors often described as overcriminalization, it is no longer possible for you to rely on your own conscience…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-duane/because-of-the-matrix-of-rampant-horrors-often-described-as/) [James Duane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-duane/) > [“The Supreme Court justices are able to decide fewer than 1 percent of all the appeals”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-duane/the-supreme-court-justices-are-able-to-decide-fewer-than-1-percent-of/) [James Duane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-duane/) > [“I told her to send the agent a letter, explaining that she would be happy to consider answering any questions he might have, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-duane/i-told-her-to-send-the-agent-a-letter-explaining-that-she-would-be/) [James Duane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-duane/) > [“If you simply say nothing in the face of police questions, unless you are in custody and under arrest, your silence can and will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-duane/if-you-simply-say-nothing-in-the-face-of-police-questions-unless-you/) [James Duane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-duane/) > [“Instead mention your Sixth Amendment right to a lawyer, and tell the police that you want a lawyer. Is that honest? Not entirely, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-duane/instead-mention-your-sixth-amendment-right-to-a-lawyer-and-tell-the/) [James Duane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-duane/) > [“Miranda warnings, written by the Supreme Court a long time ago, which require arresting officers to advise the suspect that, among other things, “anything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-duane/miranda-warnings-written-by-the-supreme-court-a-long-time-ago-which/) [James Duane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-duane/) > [“powerful phenomenon that psychologists call confirmation bias. This means that after they have come to a conclusion, especially if it is a conclusion that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-duane/powerful-phenomenon-that-psychologists-call-confirmation-bias-this/) [James Duane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-duane/) > [“the police are only doing what they were trained to do, and what they are constantly encouraged to do by the courts.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-duane/the-police-are-only-doing-what-they-were-trained-to-do-and-what-they/) [James Duane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-duane/) > [“As we will see, there are many different ways that the mere act of talking to the police can get you in a great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-duane/as-we-will-see-there-are-many-different-ways-that-the-mere-act-of/) [James Duane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-duane/) > [“You can also go to prison for up to six months for the unauthorized use of the character or the name Woodsy Owl for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-duane/you-can-also-go-to-prison-for-up-to-six-months-for-the-unauthorized/) [James Duane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-duane/) [Explore all 56 James Duane quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-duane/) ## More Bottom line quotes > [Filmmaking, like sex, isn't a polite enterprise. It involves a lot of mess and the bottom line is, if somebody ain't screaming, you're not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-woods/filmmaking-like-sex-isn-t-a-polite-enterprise-it-involves-a-lot-of/) [James Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-woods/) > [Cheer up. You're not going to be single forever. Bottom line is, you're young. Don't base your future on your past.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/cheer-up-you-re-not-going-to-be-single-forever-bottom-line-is-you-re/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I plead with my Moonlight fans to give this show a chance if they let me give it a chance. I can’t do Moonlight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-o-loughlin/i-plead-with-my-moonlight-fans-to-give-this-show-a-chance-if-they-let/) [Alex O'Loughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-o-loughlin/) > [Well, the bottom line is that I'm extremely pleased with 'The Stupids.' I'm pleased that it's coming out, and it should look good. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-landis/well-the-bottom-line-is-that-i-m-extremely-pleased-with-the-stupids-i/) [John Landis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-landis/) > [I would have had a clause in my contract; I would've definitely put some fine print in my contract that said, "If the president…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-budden/i-would-have-had-a-clause-in-my-contract-i-would-ve-definitely-put/) [Joe Budden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-budden/) > [The bottom line, in the professional level, no matter where you go, there's going to be competition. That's what it is. At the end…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-tolzien/the-bottom-line-in-the-professional-level-no-matter-where-you-go/) [Scott Tolzien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-tolzien/) > [The political satirist usually votes against their own interests, but the bottom line is that it doesn't really matter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lizz-winstead/the-political-satirist-usually-votes-against-their-own-interests-but/) [Lizz Winstead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lizz-winstead/) > [I'm very grateful to be where I'm at and be able to play. That's really the bottom line for me. Survival and being able…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-bozzio/i-m-very-grateful-to-be-where-i-m-at-and-be-able-to-play-that-s/) [Terry Bozzio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-bozzio/) > [Bottom line is, work ethic equals dreams, and I am walking proof that that's a fact.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diamond-dallas-page/bottom-line-is-work-ethic-equals-dreams-and-i-am-walking-proof-that/) [Diamond Dallas Page](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diamond-dallas-page/) > [One of two things when the guy you're dating isn't really ready to commit. He's an a\*\*hole and he's cheating on you; bottom line…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-catherwood/one-of-two-things-when-the-guy-you-re-dating-isn-t-really-ready-to/) Michael Catherwood > [The bottom line on attitude is that a good one helps to increase your possibilities. Pessimists usually get what they expect. So do optimists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/the-bottom-line-on-attitude-is-that-a-good-one-helps-to-increase-your/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [If you look at the statistics, I genuinely understand why when we go to a production company or a broadcaster, and they say our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joivan-wade/if-you-look-at-the-statistics-i-genuinely-understand-why-when-we-go/) [Joivan Wade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joivan-wade/) > [With a reality show, the bottom line is, there's no plot; there's no finale.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-gosselin/with-a-reality-show-the-bottom-line-is-there-s-no-plot-there-s-no/) [Kate Gosselin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-gosselin/) > [Two to 4% of cancers respond to chemotherapy…The bottom line is for a few kinds of cancer chemo is a life extending procedure-Hodgkin's disease,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-w-moss/two-to-4-of-cancers-respond-to-chemotherapy-the-bottom-line-is-for-a/) [Ralph W. Moss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-w-moss/) > [The bottom line is that (a) people are never perfect, but love can be, (b) that is the one and only way that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/the-bottom-line-is-that-a-people-are-never-perfect-but-love-can-be-b/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) [Browse all 942 Bottom line quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bottom-line/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The bottom line is plain: you cannot safely trust a single word that you hear from the mouth of a police officer who is trying to get you to talk.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "James Duane" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-duane/the-bottom-line-is-plain-you-cannot-safely-trust-a-single-word-that/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Bottom line" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-duane/the-bottom-line-is-plain-you-cannot-safely-trust-a-single-word-that/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/75e/james-duane-12142_bottom-line_the-bottom-line-is-plain-you-cannot-safe_2923093.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/75e/james-duane-12142_bottom-line_the-bottom-line-is-plain-you-cannot-safe_2923093.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/75e/james-duane-12142_bottom-line_the-bottom-line-is-plain-you-cannot-safe_2923093.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The bottom line is plain: you cannot safely trust a single word that you hear from the mouth of a police…” — James Duane", "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": "James Duane", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-duane/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“The bottom line is plain: you...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-duane/the-bottom-line-is-plain-you-cannot-safely-trust-a-single-word-that/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-duane/the-bottom-line-is-plain-you-cannot-safely-trust-a-single-word-that/#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 } } ] } ```