--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you can't trust people, who can you…" description: "\"If you can't trust people, who can you trust?\" — Josh Widdicombe" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f1/josh-widdicombe-9326_ethics_if-you-can-t-trust-people-who-can-you-tr_800002.jpg" --- # If you can't trust people, who can you trust? ![“If you can't trust people, who can you trust?” quote by Josh Widdicombe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f1/josh-widdicombe-9326_ethics_if-you-can-t-trust-people-who-can-you-tr_800002.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f1/josh-widdicombe-9326_ethics_if-you-can-t-trust-people-who-can-you-tr_800002.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f1/josh-widdicombe-9326_ethics_if-you-can-t-trust-people-who-can-you-tr_800002.jpg) > “If you can't trust people, who can you trust?” [Josh Widdicombe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-widdicombe/) ## 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 a prerequisite for relationships; without it, you must seek reliable sources elsewhere. **In simple terms:** Trust is essential; find trustworthy people. Key Takeaway Cultivate discernment in choosing confidants. Themes trust relationships skepticism Mood cautious reflective Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - friendships - business partnerships - online communities - family dynamics Key Concepts social psychology risk assessment Questions to Reflect On - Who in your life consistently proves trustworthy? - How do you verify someone's reliability? A Different Perspective Trust can be fragile and hard to rebuild after betrayal. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ethics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ethics/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Trust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trust/) ## Related quotes > [I think Canadians want to get a feel for the people who will serve them... and, for me, I think that Canadians will trust…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-trudeau/i-think-canadians-want-to-get-a-feel-for-the-people-who-will-serve/) [Justin Trudeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-trudeau/) > [The situation is clear. I trust in my ability, I trust in what I do and, if people put their trust in me, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-davies/the-situation-is-clear-i-trust-in-my-ability-i-trust-in-what-i-do-and/) Billy Davies > [People believe in Bernie, people trust him, people respect him, they know he says what he means, he means what he says, so if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-o-meara-sanders/people-believe-in-bernie-people-trust-him-people-respect-him-they/) [Jane O'Meara Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-o-meara-sanders/) > [I think that being good to people - you'll never regret that. Maybe you'll get walked all over, maybe you'll get tricked, maybe you'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-swift/i-think-that-being-good-to-people-you-ll-never-regret-that-maybe-you/) [Taylor Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-swift/) > [I'm all about doing things myself because I find it hard to trust other people. Not trust, but I know exactly what I want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-hewlett/i-m-all-about-doing-things-myself-because-i-find-it-hard-to-trust/) [Jamie Hewlett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-hewlett/) > [The very people in whom we put our trust are the very people who hurts us first before anyone else does](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markson-bero/the-very-people-in-whom-we-put-our-trust-are-the-very-people-who/) [Markson Bero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markson-bero/) > [There's only a handful of people I trust completely, and I know who they are. Other than that, I pretty much don't trust people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-yelchin/there-s-only-a-handful-of-people-i-trust-completely-and-i-know-who/) [Anton Yelchin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-yelchin/) > [Are there people to aspire to? Can people be strong enough to withstand all of this disillusionment? Maybe the time is right for people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brendan-gleeson/are-there-people-to-aspire-to-can-people-be-strong-enough-to/) [Brendan Gleeson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brendan-gleeson/) > [“A person needs a basic trust of life and humanity in order to allow all this to happen, to believe more in human goodness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-ten-rose/a-person-needs-a-basic-trust-of-life-and-humanity-in-order-to-allow/) [Doug "Ten" Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-ten-rose/) > [If you are honest, truthful, and transparent, people trust you. If people trust you, you have no grounds for fear, suspicion or jealousy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-are-honest-truthful-and-transparent-people-trust-you-if-people/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The best of the best understand that people do business with people they like. People do business with people they trust, and people do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-s-sharma/the-best-of-the-best-understand-that-people-do-business-with-people/) [Robin S. Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-s-sharma/) > [Don't lie to people who trust you, & don't trust people who lie to you!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/don-t-lie-to-people-who-trust-you-don-t-trust-people-who-lie-to-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Just remember that the people you trust...may also trust other people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/just-remember-that-the-people-you-trust-may-also-trust-other-people/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“If you cannot trust people - trust numbers. Even if they look unbelievable - they never lie.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-vato/if-you-cannot-trust-people-trust-numbers-even-if-they-look/) [Thomas Vato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-vato/) > [If there was a template for success in sports, everyone would follow it. You do the best you can and trust the people you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-cuban/if-there-was-a-template-for-success-in-sports-everyone-would-follow/) [Mark Cuban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-cuban/) ## More by Josh Widdicombe > [Most people I was at school with, if they saw me on telly, wouldn't know I'd been at school with them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-widdicombe/most-people-i-was-at-school-with-if-they-saw-me-on-telly-wouldn-t/) [Josh Widdicombe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-widdicombe/) > [Write about what you know, that's what I say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-widdicombe/write-about-what-you-know-that-s-what-i-say/) [Josh Widdicombe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-widdicombe/) > [Sitcom writing is difficult because it's not just about writing jokes - there's a very fine balance between characters, plot, and comedy, that if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-widdicombe/sitcom-writing-is-difficult-because-it-s-not-just-about-writing-jokes/) [Josh Widdicombe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-widdicombe/) > [I really didn't think anything would come out of doing stand-up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-widdicombe/i-really-didn-t-think-anything-would-come-out-of-doing-stand-up/) [Josh Widdicombe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-widdicombe/) > [Successful comedians are just as neurotic as I am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-widdicombe/successful-comedians-are-just-as-neurotic-as-i-am/) [Josh Widdicombe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-widdicombe/) > [When I first went to university, I did a big shop with my dad. We bought loads of stuff but it didn't occur to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-widdicombe/when-i-first-went-to-university-i-did-a-big-shop-with-my-dad-we/) [Josh Widdicombe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-widdicombe/) > [I'm lucky that I don't have any big regrets. Maybe that undercut hairstyle from my youth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-widdicombe/i-m-lucky-that-i-don-t-have-any-big-regrets-maybe-that-undercut/) [Josh Widdicombe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-widdicombe/) > [I'm one of life's pessimists. I'm ready for everything to go wrong at any moment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-widdicombe/i-m-one-of-life-s-pessimists-i-m-ready-for-everything-to-go-wrong-at/) [Josh Widdicombe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-widdicombe/) > [The great thing about stand up is you get to do other things. You get to do your stand up tours but you also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-widdicombe/the-great-thing-about-stand-up-is-you-get-to-do-other-things-you-get/) [Josh Widdicombe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-widdicombe/) > [I love my wife and daughters, but there are times you want to put them in the bin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-widdicombe/i-love-my-wife-and-daughters-but-there-are-times-you-want-to-put-them/) [Josh Widdicombe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-widdicombe/) > [There's enough really good actors out of work without me trying to steal any of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-widdicombe/there-s-enough-really-good-actors-out-of-work-without-me-trying-to/) [Josh Widdicombe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-widdicombe/) > [I loved 1990s television: 'The Fast Show,' 'Father Ted,' 'Harry Enfield.' 'Clive Anderson Talks Back.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-widdicombe/i-loved-1990s-television-the-fast-show-father-ted-harry-enfield-clive/) [Josh Widdicombe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-widdicombe/) > [I've got no pretence that I want to do 'Hamlet' or anything, I know my limitations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-widdicombe/i-ve-got-no-pretence-that-i-want-to-do-hamlet-or-anything-i-know-my/) [Josh Widdicombe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-widdicombe/) > [I'll never have a house party again. You stand around for ages worried that nobody's coming and the next minute you're queuing for your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-widdicombe/i-ll-never-have-a-house-party-again-you-stand-around-for-ages-worried/) [Josh Widdicombe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-widdicombe/) > [I'd hope that when Channel 4 started, 'The Last Leg' was the kind of show it wanted to be putting out. I think they're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-widdicombe/i-d-hope-that-when-channel-4-started-the-last-leg-was-the-kind-of/) [Josh Widdicombe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-widdicombe/) [Explore all 73 Josh Widdicombe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-widdicombe/) ## More Ethics quotes > [Self-respect and a clear conscience are powerful components of integrity and are the basis for enriching your relationships with others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-waitley/self-respect-and-a-clear-conscience-are-powerful-components-of/) [Denis Waitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-waitley/) > [“Knowledge without conscience is but the ruin of the soul.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabelaise/knowledge-without-conscience-is-but-the-ruin-of-the-soul/) Rabelaise > [He who mistrusts most should be trusted least.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theognis-of-megara/he-who-mistrusts-most-should-be-trusted-least/) [Theognis of Megara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theognis-of-megara/) > [Writing adds up to the conscience of our times.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-firrell/writing-adds-up-to-the-conscience-of-our-times/) [Martin Firrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-firrell/) > [Ethics is the activity of man directed to secure the inner perfection of his own personality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/ethics-is-the-activity-of-man-directed-to-secure-the-inner-perfection/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [My conscience is really active. So I feel bad about spending excess amount of money on things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/syd/my-conscience-is-really-active-so-i-feel-bad-about-spending-excess/) [Syd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/syd/) > [Records, radio, television, movies, magazines-all are monopolized by the money managers who are guided by one ethic, the words wealth and power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-taft-benson/records-radio-television-movies-magazines-all-are-monopolized-by-the/) [Ezra Taft Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-taft-benson/) > [Let us be thankful for health and competence, and, above all, for a quiet conscience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/izaak-walton/let-us-be-thankful-for-health-and-competence-and-above-all-for-a/) [Izaak Walton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/izaak-walton/) > [Making money doesn't oblige people to forfeit their honor or their conscience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-de-rothschild/making-money-doesn-t-oblige-people-to-forfeit-their-honor-or-their/) [Guy de Rothschild](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-de-rothschild/) > [“If we cannot be happy and powerful and prey on others, we invent conscience and prey on ourselves.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/if-we-cannot-be-happy-and-powerful-and-prey-on-others-we-invent/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) > [There is no perfect justice, just as there is no absolute in ethics. But there is perfect injustice, and we know it when we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-dershowitz/there-is-no-perfect-justice-just-as-there-is-no-absolute-in-ethics/) [Alan Dershowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-dershowitz/) > [I think the ethics and morals of genetic engineering are very complicated. It intrigues me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-spottiswoode/i-think-the-ethics-and-morals-of-genetic-engineering-are-very/) [Roger Spottiswoode](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-spottiswoode/) > [What our species needs, above all else, is a generally accepted ethical system that is compatible with the scientific knowledge we now possess.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/what-our-species-needs-above-all-else-is-a-generally-accepted-ethical/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Ethics is not definable, is not implementable, because it is not conscious; it involves not only our thinking, but also our feeling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valdemar-w-setzer/ethics-is-not-definable-is-not-implementable-because-it-is-not/) Valdemar W Setzer > [Any time you give a man something he doesn't earn, you cheapen him. Our kids earn what they get, and that includes respect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-hayes/any-time-you-give-a-man-something-he-doesn-t-earn-you-cheapen-him-our/) [Woody Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-hayes/) [Browse all 4,548 Ethics quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ethics/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If you can't trust people, who can you trust?", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Josh Widdicombe" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-widdicombe/if-you-can-t-trust-people-who-can-you-trust/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ethics" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-widdicombe/if-you-can-t-trust-people-who-can-you-trust/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f1/josh-widdicombe-9326_ethics_if-you-can-t-trust-people-who-can-you-tr_800002.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f1/josh-widdicombe-9326_ethics_if-you-can-t-trust-people-who-can-you-tr_800002.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f1/josh-widdicombe-9326_ethics_if-you-can-t-trust-people-who-can-you-tr_800002.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If you can't trust people, who can you trust?” — Josh Widdicombe", "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": "Josh Widdicombe", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-widdicombe/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If you can't trust people, who...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-widdicombe/if-you-can-t-trust-people-who-can-you-trust/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-widdicombe/if-you-can-t-trust-people-who-can-you-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 } } ] } ```