Talk Isn't Cheap and People Usually Put Themselves First

Some say, "Talk is cheap." That is incorrect. Talk is very costly.
It costs us when we take others at their word and they break their
word. It costs us when we give our word and then have to make good.
It especially costs us when we give your word and fail to make good.

I read once that people can be divided into three categories;

(1) Those who seek their own interests, even at your expense, while
concealing their intentions,

(2) Those who seek their own interests, even at your expense, and make
no secret of it,

(3) And those who don't set out to put their interests above yours,
but will given the right circumstances.

In general, I find this to be true. The exceptions to this are so few
and far between that we can act as if they don't exist. However, we
shouldn't hold this against people...it's probably true of us as well
in regards to our interactions with most people.

That means, the only people you can trust in this regard are those
whose own self interest coincides with yours (often relatives) and
those who have a track record of living by right principals even when
it is very costly to them.