Lows Quote by Lord Acton
“A man can be trusted only up to low-water mark.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Essays on History and Politics, 1880s
Trustworthiness declines when circumstances worsen; reliability is conditional on favorable conditions.
In simple terms: People are reliable only when things are easy.
Key Takeaway
Beware of relying on others in tough times.
Themes
trust
reliability
conditions
Mood
cautious
reflective
Type
advice
philosophical
When to use this quote
- business partnerships
- personal relationships
- crisis management
- financial lending
Key Concepts
conditional trust
human nature
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you assess someone's reliability under pressure?
- What safeguards can you put in place?
A Different Perspective
Even low-water marks can be deceptive; trust may falter unexpectedly.
![“Just between you and me, shouldn’t the World Bank be encouraging MORE migration of the dirty industries to the LDCs [Less Developed Countries]?... I think the economic logic behind dumping a load of toxic waste in the lowest wage country is impeccable and we should face up to that... I’ve always…” quote by Lawrence Summers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/ac4/lawrence-summers-16940_air_just-between-you-and-me-shouldn-t-the-wo_4703.jpg)
