trust everybody, but cut the cards

== English == === Alternative forms === trust everybody, but always cut the cards trust everybody, but cut the deck trust every man, but cut the cards trust your friends, but cut the cards === Etymology === Reportedly coined by Finley Peter Dunne (1867-1936) and expressed in dialect by his character "Mr. Dooley" in Mr. Dooley's Philosophy (1900), p. 260: "Thrust ivrybody—but cut th' ca-ards." === Proverb === trust everybody, but cut the cards One should have general faith in the good intentions of others, but one should never neglect to take appropriate precautions against being deceived or cheated. ==== Usage notes ==== Many variations are found, as in: 1996, Susan Porter Benson, "Living on the Margin" in The Sex of Things (Victoria De Grazia, ed.), →ISBN, p. 236 (Google preview): Even in the most promising circumstances, a woman might trust her husband but still cut the cards. === See also === divide and choose (game theory) trust, but verify