A brass balance scale holding a fountain pen on one pan and a stack of green papers on the other, against a dark green background.

Original artwork, not a still

J.P. Morgan

A man I do not trust could not get money from me on all the bonds in Christendom. I think that is the fundamental basis of business.

Behind the line

What it means

Our interpretation.

This view treats trust as the foundation of lending. The speaker claims a man he doesn't trust couldn't borrow money from him even with every bond in Christendom as security. In other words, character comes before collateral in business, in this outlook.

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