“You can always trust me”

This type of remark will always raise a red flag, since people who are actually trustworthy don’t feel the need to tell you that they’re trustworthy. If you understand them, they’ll assume you already know. If you don’t, they’ll demand to prove their trustworthiness rather than tell you about it.

If we try to translate this, it would sound something like this:  “You’d be foolish to believe me, but if I can convince you to think this, I’ll be able to keep manipulating you.” Additionally, saying that about myself makes me feel great.

When you hear this sentence, it’s a good idea to pause, take another look, and ask yourself what’s actually going on.