I'd be cynical if I assumed integrity didn't exist. Some people seem to have it, and many more strive for it. But I'd be hopelessly naive if I ever assumed it

I'd be cynical if I assumed integrity didn't exist. Some people seem to have it, and many more strive for it. But I'd be hopelessly naive if I ever assumed it to exist, or if I assumed public displays of "integrity" were connected to an internal state. These latter assumptions might be true, but the cost of them being not true is too high, and the occurrence of "not true" is too frequent. Or, shorter, "Trust, but verify" :)