Ernest Hemingway cuts through over-analysis with a simple, courageous truth. We often hesitate to trust people, waiting for them to "prove" themselves trustworthy first. But trust is not a conclusion you reach after all evidence is in; it is a risk you take at the beginning.

By choosing to trust someone, you create the conditions for trustworthiness to flourish. This act of faith and vulnerability often inspires people to rise to the occasion. The only real way to know if a bridge will hold you is to step onto it. This principle is foundational for building deep relationships.

This quote encourages a proactive approach to connection. It suggests that while trust can be broken, a life without trust is a lonely one, and the reward of deep connection is worth the risk.