There is a string to every proposition, and it behooves you to look out
for the string before acceding to the requests that are made of you.
When a stranger comes and offers to do things for you, to let you in on
the ground floor, or assures you that he is working for your interest,
you may be sure there is a string to his proposition, and the string is
that, as a matter of fact, it is himself instead of you he is looking
out for.
Don't bite at the chance that is offered you to get something for
nothing. The biggest kind of a string is always in such a proposition.
Remember this, that people are selfish. Each man looks out for his own
interest, and even if he is protecting your interest, it is because his
own interest will be better conserved by looking out for yours.
Don't decide on important matters too quickly. Don't get tied up in big
contracts with strangers until you have found every strand of the
string.
Don't be too suspicious but hunt for the string. It pays to be very
conservative on all matters in which others are interested.
Sometimes the string in the proposition is legitimate and the other
fellow may be more interested than you are, but it certainly behooves
you to see what this string is and to understand exactly where the end
of the string is tied.
Don't draw up in your shell and look upon every man with a proposition
as trying to take advantage of you, but put down this as a truth--There
is a string to every proposition, and you must find that string before
you close the deal.