--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Never trust a man who speaks well of…" description: "\"Never trust a man who speaks well of everybody.\" — John Churton Collins" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ac/john-churton-collins-28930_speaks_never-trust-a-man-who-speaks-well-of-eve_2737144.png" --- # Never trust a man who speaks well of everybody. ![“Never trust a man who speaks well of everybody.” quote by John Churton Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ac/john-churton-collins-28930_speaks_never-trust-a-man-who-speaks-well-of-eve_2737144.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ac/john-churton-collins-28930_speaks_never-trust-a-man-who-speaks-well-of-eve_2737144.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ac/john-churton-collins-28930_speaks_never-trust-a-man-who-speaks-well-of-eve_2737144.png) > “Never trust a man who speaks well of everybody.” [John Churton Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-churton-collins/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The warning suggests that those who praise everyone may be insincere, implying that true trustworthiness involves honest, selective appraisal. **In simple terms:** Flattery may hide insincerity. Key Takeaway Value honest, specific feedback. Themes trust integrity communication Mood cautious thoughtful Type ethical observational When to use this quote - personal relationships - leadership - team dynamics Key Concepts sincerity social judgment Questions to Reflect On - How can you discern sincere praise? - When should you be cautious of over‑praise? A Different Perspective Not all praise is genuine. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Trust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trust/) ## Related quotes > [“When music speaks, everybody understands”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paolo-petrocelli/when-music-speaks-everybody-understands/) Paolo Petrocelli > [When Prince Charles speaks, everybody pretends to be fascinated, even though he has never said anything interesting except in that intercepted telephone conversation wherein…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/when-prince-charles-speaks-everybody-pretends-to-be-fascinated-even/) [Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/) > [I would like to mature to a man who speaks well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serge-gnabry/i-would-like-to-mature-to-a-man-who-speaks-well/) [Serge Gnabry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/serge-gnabry/) > [A young man who is here speaks the Panis language, and in many other respects, is preferable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zebulon-pike/a-young-man-who-is-here-speaks-the-panis-language-and-in-many-other/) [Zebulon Pike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zebulon-pike/) > [“The man speaks Southern football, now shut up.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/the-man-speaks-southern-football-now-shut-up/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [Speech is a mirror of the soul: as a man speaks, so is he.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/speech-is-a-mirror-of-the-soul-as-a-man-speaks-so-is-he/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“That is how a man speaks. And that is why.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-alderman/that-is-how-a-man-speaks-and-that-is-why/) [Naomi Alderman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-alderman/) > [“Never trust a man who spends too much time on his hair.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bridie-clark/never-trust-a-man-who-spends-too-much-time-on-his-hair/) [Bridie Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bridie-clark/) > [A man speaks only when driven to speech by something outside himself - like, for instance, he can't find any clean socks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-kerr/a-man-speaks-only-when-driven-to-speech-by-something-outside-himself/) [Jean Kerr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-kerr/) > [“And a man who speaks effectively through music is compelled to something more difficult than parliamentary eloquence.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-eliot/and-a-man-who-speaks-effectively-through-music-is-compelled-to/) [George Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-eliot/) > [It may, indeed, be assumed that a man who loses his temper while he is speaking is endeavouring to speak the truth such as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-trollope/it-may-indeed-be-assumed-that-a-man-who-loses-his-temper-while-he-is/) [Anthony Trollope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-trollope/) > [A man speaks of what he knows, a woman of what pleases her: the one requires knowledge, the other taste.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-jacques-rousseau/a-man-speaks-of-what-he-knows-a-woman-of-what-pleases-her-the-one/) [Jean-Jacques Rousseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-jacques-rousseau/) > [An intellectual may be defined as a man who speaks with general authority about a subject on which he has no particular competence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-kristol/an-intellectual-may-be-defined-as-a-man-who-speaks-with-general/) [Irving Kristol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-kristol/) > [“In the land of Gibberish, the man who makes sense, the man who speaks clearly, clearly speaks nonsense.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/in-the-land-of-gibberish-the-man-who-makes-sense-the-man-who-speaks/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [A wise man speaks because he has something to say; a fool because he has to say something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/a-wise-man-speaks-because-he-has-something-to-say-a-fool-because-he/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) ## More by John Churton Collins > [The secret of success in life is known only by those who have not succeeded.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-churton-collins/the-secret-of-success-in-life-is-known-only-by-those-who-have-not/) [John Churton Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-churton-collins/) > [In prosperity our friends know us; in adversity we know our friends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-churton-collins/in-prosperity-our-friends-know-us-in-adversity-we-know-our-friends/) [John Churton Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-churton-collins/) > [If we knew each other's secrets, what comforts we should find.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-churton-collins/if-we-knew-each-other-s-secrets-what-comforts-we-should-find/) [John Churton Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-churton-collins/) > [We are no more responsible for the evil thoughts that pass through our minds than a scarecrow for the birds which fly over the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-churton-collins/we-are-no-more-responsible-for-the-evil-thoughts-that-pass-through/) [John Churton Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-churton-collins/) > [There is often less danger in the things we fear than in the things we desire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-churton-collins/there-is-often-less-danger-in-the-things-we-fear-than-in-the-things/) [John Churton Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-churton-collins/) > [In the downhill of life, when I find I'm declining, May my lot no less fortunate be Than a snug elbow-chair can afford for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-churton-collins/in-the-downhill-of-life-when-i-find-i-m-declining-may-my-lot-no-less/) [John Churton Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-churton-collins/) > [Truth is the object of philosophy, but not always of philosophers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-churton-collins/truth-is-the-object-of-philosophy-but-not-always-of-philosophers/) [John Churton Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-churton-collins/) > [Though pride is not a virtue, it is the parent of many virtues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-churton-collins/though-pride-is-not-a-virtue-it-is-the-parent-of-many-virtues/) [John Churton Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-churton-collins/) > [Never claim as a right what you can ask as a favor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-churton-collins/never-claim-as-a-right-what-you-can-ask-as-a-favor/) [John Churton Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-churton-collins/) > [Envy and fear are the only passions to which no pleasure is attached.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-churton-collins/envy-and-fear-are-the-only-passions-to-which-no-pleasure-is-attached/) [John Churton Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-churton-collins/) > [If we escape punishment for our vices, why should we complain if we are not rewarded for our virtues?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-churton-collins/if-we-escape-punishment-for-our-vices-why-should-we-complain-if-we/) [John Churton Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-churton-collins/) > [A wise man thinks what is easy is difficult.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-churton-collins/a-wise-man-thinks-what-is-easy-is-difficult/) [John Churton Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-churton-collins/) > [To ask advice is in nine cases out of ten to tout for flattery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-churton-collins/to-ask-advice-is-in-nine-cases-out-of-ten-to-tout-for-flattery/) [John Churton Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-churton-collins/) > [Suicide is the worst form of murder, because it leaves no opportunity for repentance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-churton-collins/suicide-is-the-worst-form-of-murder-because-it-leaves-no-opportunity/) [John Churton Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-churton-collins/) > [A fool often fails because he thinks what is difficult is easy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-churton-collins/a-fool-often-fails-because-he-thinks-what-is-difficult-is-easy/) [John Churton Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-churton-collins/) [Explore all 19 John Churton Collins quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-churton-collins/) ## More Speaks quotes > [He who knows does not speak. He who speaks does not know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/he-who-knows-does-not-speak-he-who-speaks-does-not-know/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [God speaks through me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/god-speaks-through-me/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [“The Just and the unJust inhabiting the same body, so close you can’t pry us apart, but we are not friends. He speaks, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ward-just/the-just-and-the-unjust-inhabiting-the-same-body-so-close-you-can-t/) [Ward Just](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ward-just/) > [My brothers and sister and me grew up making fun of each other, the way we'd speak or move. When we get together, everyone's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colman-domingo/my-brothers-and-sister-and-me-grew-up-making-fun-of-each-other-the/) [Colman Domingo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colman-domingo/) > [Every so often you read a play and a character just speaks to you - almost seems to speak through you, in fact.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-rickman/every-so-often-you-read-a-play-and-a-character-just-speaks-to-you/) [Alan Rickman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-rickman/) > [For people of color - especially African Americans - the idea that racist cops might frame members of their community is no abstract notion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-wise/for-people-of-color-especially-african-americans-the-idea-that-racist/) [Tim Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-wise/) > [She speaks with a stutter and she and she walks with a hop. I don't know why I love her, but I just can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dylan/she-speaks-with-a-stutter-and-she-and-she-walks-with-a-hop-i-don-t/) [Bob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dylan/) > [“President Trumps election speaks volumes about the blatant failures of the Obama administration.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/president-trumps-election-speaks-volumes-about-the-blatant-failures/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [“That is how a man speaks. And that is why.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-alderman/that-is-how-a-man-speaks-and-that-is-why/) [Naomi Alderman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-alderman/) > [Action speaks louder than words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/action-speaks-louder-than-words/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [In comic strips, the person on the left always speaks first.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/in-comic-strips-the-person-on-the-left-always-speaks-first/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [Who speaks of triumph? To endure is everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-pacino/who-speaks-of-triumph-to-endure-is-everything/) [Al Pacino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-pacino/) > [It speaks truth when you listen to Bob Marley.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rohan-marley/it-speaks-truth-when-you-listen-to-bob-marley/) [Rohan Marley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rohan-marley/) > [My mother-in-law speaks not a word of English. I speak not a word of Tajiki. So I smile at her ingratiatingly and she fixes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilbur-smith/my-mother-in-law-speaks-not-a-word-of-english-i-speak-not-a-word-of/) [Wilbur Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilbur-smith/) > [The only problem was that I couldn't communicate with Dario. He speaks Italian and I don't. We had a translator the whole time. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-hunter/the-only-problem-was-that-i-couldn-t-communicate-with-dario-he-speaks/) [Kim Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-hunter/) Browse all 386 Speaks quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Never trust a man who speaks well of everybody.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Churton Collins" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-churton-collins/never-trust-a-man-who-speaks-well-of-everybody/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Speaks" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-churton-collins/never-trust-a-man-who-speaks-well-of-everybody/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ac/john-churton-collins-28930_speaks_never-trust-a-man-who-speaks-well-of-eve_2737144.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ac/john-churton-collins-28930_speaks_never-trust-a-man-who-speaks-well-of-eve_2737144.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ac/john-churton-collins-28930_speaks_never-trust-a-man-who-speaks-well-of-eve_2737144.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Never trust a man who speaks well of everybody.” — John Churton Collins", "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": "John Churton Collins", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-churton-collins/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Never trust a man who speaks...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-churton-collins/never-trust-a-man-who-speaks-well-of-everybody/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-churton-collins/never-trust-a-man-who-speaks-well-of-everybody/#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 } } ] } ```