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"Trust but verify" is such an empty phrase. Two people getting ready to leave the house. A: "Did you turn off the stove?" B: "Yes" A: "Are you sure?" B: "Yes
by BoiledCabbage 5y ago
"Trust but verify" is such an empty phrase.
Two people getting ready to leave the house.
A: "Did you turn off the stove?"
B: "Yes"
A: "Are you sure?"
B: "Yes"
If you trust them, then you leave the house. If you go verify it yourself, then you don't trust them.
- strken 5y agoI don't think it's entirely empty. There's a difference between a hostile entity who will try to harm you and whose attempts must be thwarted, and a mostly benevolent entity who will occasionally do the wrong thing if not given oversight. Consider the different approaches to mitigating terrorism (proactive prevention against a hostile actor willing to make sacrifices to harm you) versus mitigating tax evasion (after-the-fact verification and punishment against a greedy actor willing to make rational selfish decisions).
- anamexis 5y agoI think it's an intentionally oxymoronic, witty turn of phrase. In case you aren't aware of its history: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trust,_but_verify https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trust,_but_verify
- BoiledCabbage 5y agoThanks - and yes I'm aware of it's history. And as to support my point, even your link quotes Stalin being the inspiration of the concept specifically says: "Healthy distrust makes good base for cooperation" Ie the phrase is simply distrust - it has no meaning to trust at all.