--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If a deal looks too good to be true, it…" description: "\"If a deal looks too good to be true, it probably is.\" — Michael Douglas" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a16/michael-douglas-2539_adage_if-a-deal-looks-too-good-to-be-true-it-p_413662.jpg" --- # If a deal looks too good to be true, it probably is. ![“If a deal looks too good to be true, it probably is.” quote by Michael Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a16/michael-douglas-2539_adage_if-a-deal-looks-too-good-to-be-true-it-p_413662.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a16/michael-douglas-2539_adage_if-a-deal-looks-too-good-to-be-true-it-p_413662.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a16/michael-douglas-2539_adage_if-a-deal-looks-too-good-to-be-true-it-p_413662.jpg) > “If a deal looks too good to be true, it probably is.” [Michael Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-douglas/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Offers that seem too perfect often hide hidden risks. **In simple terms:** If something sounds too good, be skeptical. Key Takeaway Question deals that appear flawless. Themes trust skepticism risk finance Mood cautious analytical Type advice business When to use this quote - investment - business contracts - personal finance Key Concepts cognitive bias due diligence Questions to Reflect On - How do you verify a deal’s legitimacy? - What safeguards can you implement? A Different Perspective Some opportunities are genuinely exceptional. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Adage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adage/) [Be true](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/be-true/) [Deal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deal/) [Deal Looks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deal-looks-3681845/) [Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good/) [Looks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looks/) [Negotiation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/negotiation/) [Probably](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/probably/) [Too](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/too/) [Too good to be true](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/too-good-to-be-true/) [True](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/true/) [True Probably](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/true-probably-1127214/) ## Related quotes > [“If it seems too good to be true, it probably is.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenna-evans-welch/if-it-seems-too-good-to-be-true-it-probably-is/) [Jenna Evans Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenna-evans-welch/) > [If it is too good to be true…it is probably a fraud.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-weber/if-it-is-too-good-to-be-true-it-is-probably-a-fraud/) [Ron Weber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-weber/) > [If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-it-sounds-too-good-to-be-true-it-probably-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [From my experience, honey, if he seems too good to be true—he probably is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/candace-bushnell/from-my-experience-honey-if-he-seems-too-good-to-be-true-he-probably/) [Candace Bushnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/candace-bushnell/) > [If you think it's too good to be true…it probably is...for YOU...but that's not stopping the next guy from getting it! Opportunities come knockin'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markesa-yeager/if-you-think-it-s-too-good-to-be-true-it-probably-is-for-you-but-that/) [Markesa Yeager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markesa-yeager/) > [“If something seems too good to be true, it probably is. Always question things that defy your common sense. Definitely”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-kavadlo/if-something-seems-too-good-to-be-true-it-probably-is-always-question/) [Al Kavadlo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-kavadlo/) > [“Be very careful of anything that looks too good to be true. Because if it looks too good to be true, that’s probably because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-mccall-smith/be-very-careful-of-anything-that-looks-too-good-to-be-true-because-if/) [Alexander McCall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-mccall-smith/) > [There is no quick way of making money. People come to you with tips for the races or offer the latest Ponzi scheme, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilbur-smith/there-is-no-quick-way-of-making-money-people-come-to-you-with-tips/) [Wilbur Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilbur-smith/) > [If a deal advertised on an unknown website looks too good to be true, it almost certainly is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-rinder/if-a-deal-advertised-on-an-unknown-website-looks-too-good-to-be-true/) [Robert Rinder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-rinder/) > [If its too good to be true, honey it probably is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-its-too-good-to-be-true-honey-it-probably-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The deal looks bad and smells worse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-malkin/the-deal-looks-bad-and-smells-worse/) [Michelle Malkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-malkin/) > [The thing about Drew Goddard and Mike Schur is that they are legit geniuses, and they love storytelling. They love creating worlds, love messing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-arcy-carden/the-thing-about-drew-goddard-and-mike-schur-is-that-they-are-legit/) [D'Arcy Carden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-arcy-carden/) > [Contrary to what we conclude naturally, the gospel is not too good to be true. It is true! Its the truest truth in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tullian-tchividjian/contrary-to-what-we-conclude-naturally-the-gospel-is-not-too-good-to/) [Tullian Tchividjian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tullian-tchividjian/) > [When I came up with Ethereum, my first first thought was, 'Okay, this thing is too good to be true.' As it turned out,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vitalik-buterin/when-i-came-up-with-ethereum-my-first-first-thought-was-okay-this/) [Vitalik Buterin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vitalik-buterin/) > [It may sound too good to be true, but once you've seen the happiest people in your life who have nothing, you really start…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blake-mycoskie/it-may-sound-too-good-to-be-true-but-once-you-ve-seen-the-happiest/) [Blake Mycoskie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blake-mycoskie/) ## More by Michael Douglas > [Directors have so much else to do besides tell actors what to do. There are so many issues and problems.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-douglas/directors-have-so-much-else-to-do-besides-tell-actors-what-to-do/) [Michael Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-douglas/) > [I've gotten burnt the last few years on a couple of little independent films where you get paid nothing, you work your ass off,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-douglas/i-ve-gotten-burnt-the-last-few-years-on-a-couple-of-little/) [Michael Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-douglas/) > [With little knowledge of what it meant to be a Jew, I found myself passionately defending the Jewish people. Now, half a century later,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-douglas/with-little-knowledge-of-what-it-meant-to-be-a-jew-i-found-myself/) [Michael Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-douglas/) > [When you've accomplished a certain amount in your career, you're not so focused on your ambitions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-douglas/when-you-ve-accomplished-a-certain-amount-in-your-career-you-re-not/) [Michael Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-douglas/) > [I don't look good in tights. I know that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-douglas/i-don-t-look-good-in-tights-i-know-that/) [Michael Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-douglas/) > [My mother is Bermudan, so I had a lot of memories when I was a kid, used to go down to Bermuda a lot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-douglas/my-mother-is-bermudan-so-i-had-a-lot-of-memories-when-i-was-a-kid/) [Michael Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-douglas/) > [I love kids, and I love having had this second chance to have a family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-douglas/i-love-kids-and-i-love-having-had-this-second-chance-to-have-a-family/) [Michael Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-douglas/) > [I guess there are some women who like older men, but it's a smaller group.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-douglas/i-guess-there-are-some-women-who-like-older-men-but-it-s-a-smaller/) [Michael Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-douglas/) > [People are goofy about the movie business, so you end up counting on friends you knew before you were successful. It is harder to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-douglas/people-are-goofy-about-the-movie-business-so-you-end-up-counting-on/) [Michael Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-douglas/) > [I don't know about Brad Pitt leaving that beautiful woman to go hold orphans for Angelina. I mean how long is that going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-douglas/i-don-t-know-about-brad-pitt-leaving-that-beautiful-woman-to-go-hold/) [Michael Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-douglas/) > [I enjoy provocative things that are questionable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-douglas/i-enjoy-provocative-things-that-are-questionable/) [Michael Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-douglas/) > [I don't wish ill will on anybody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-douglas/i-don-t-wish-ill-will-on-anybody/) [Michael Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-douglas/) > [When you are a celebrity, nothing remains secret for very long.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-douglas/when-you-are-a-celebrity-nothing-remains-secret-for-very-long/) [Michael Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-douglas/) > [When I go on a holiday to a tropical place, I'll spray tan before I go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-douglas/when-i-go-on-a-holiday-to-a-tropical-place-i-ll-spray-tan-before-i-go/) [Michael Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-douglas/) > [I come from a tough stock.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-douglas/i-come-from-a-tough-stock/) [Michael Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-douglas/) [Explore all 162 Michael Douglas quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-douglas/) ## More Adage quotes > [“Take care of your costume and your confidence will take care of itself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/take-care-of-your-costume-and-your-confidence-will-take-care-of-itself/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [“In general, poor is polite and rich is rude.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/in-general-poor-is-polite-and-rich-is-rude/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [“For their never-ending endeavours to obtain or retain wealth, countries desperately need companies, because they—unlike most human beings—have the means of production, and human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/for-their-never-ending-endeavours-to-obtain-or-retain-wealth/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [It seemed too good to be true. That's grace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judah-smith/it-seemed-too-good-to-be-true-that-s-grace/) [Judah Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judah-smith/) > [“The smell of the sweat is not sweet, but the fruit of the sweat is very sweet.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/the-smell-of-the-sweat-is-not-sweet-but-the-fruit-of-the-sweat-is/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [“An expensive coffin does not decrease the deceased’s chances of going to hell.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/an-expensive-coffin-does-not-decrease-the-deceased-s-chances-of-going/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [If a deal advertised on an unknown website looks too good to be true, it almost certainly is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-rinder/if-a-deal-advertised-on-an-unknown-website-looks-too-good-to-be-true/) [Robert Rinder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-rinder/) > [“Be very careful of anything that looks too good to be true. Because if it looks too good to be true, that’s probably because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-mccall-smith/be-very-careful-of-anything-that-looks-too-good-to-be-true-because-if/) [Alexander McCall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-mccall-smith/) > [“A premature death does not only rob one of the countless instances where one would have experienced pleasure, it also saves one from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/a-premature-death-does-not-only-rob-one-of-the-countless-instances/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [I knew it was too good to be true. Some things never change...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-knew-it-was-too-good-to-be-true-some-things-never-change/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Don't compare the size of your roof with the size of the sky.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/don-t-compare-the-size-of-your-roof-with-the-size-of-the-sky/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [“All worries are less with wine.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/all-worries-are-less-with-wine/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [You know the old adage that the customer's always right? Well, I kind of think that the opposite is true. The customer is rarely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-trotter/you-know-the-old-adage-that-the-customer-s-always-right-well-i-kind/) [Charlie Trotter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-trotter/) > [“Old Korean adage, "Even jade has flaws." 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