to keep from getting brunt

Trust is a fragile thing..... Once earned, it affords us tremendous freedom. But once trust is lost, it can be impossible to recover.

Of course the truth is, we never know who we can trust. Those we're closest to can betray us, and total strangers can come to our rescue.

In the end, most people decide to trust only themselves. It really is the simplest way to keep from getting burned.