Trust itself is an act of self-presentation exposing the truster to ridicule if misplaced

Evidence

The inner assurance which comes from being equal to the demands of self-presentation in all situations, and of always knowing a practicable way out even from bungled situations, is one of those inner resources which serve as a foundation for readiness to trust. For even bestowing trust is an act of self-presentation. The person who trusts presents himself as someone who is by his nature inclined to bestow trust. If the trust then turns out to be misplaced, the person who trusted is not only disappointed, but in some circumstances also exposed to ridicule. It then becomes obvious that he was too stupid to see through the situation, that he let himself be taken advantage of – a victim of the equivocal ethic which says that one should trust, but not too blindly. At this point, it comes to be something which depends on practice and expertise in self-presentation. A person will certainly be more easily disposed to place trust to begin with if he is sure from the outset that, in the event of disappointment, his self-presentation will not be affected, or at least can be refloated without any great damage. — Niklas Luhmann, Trust and Power, 293

Categorization

• XREF: Directly relevant to Stevens: the risk of misplaced trust threatens the presented self, which is why he clings to Lord Darlington’s institution — admitting the trust was misplaced destroys the self he has presented.