**Before a person does something bad, there are often predictable signs that they were going to do it.** This is analogous to how a well-trained auditor spots fraud immediately while the lay public misses it. Danger Flags are a trainable skill — pattern recognition for human reliability. **Three goals** of the Danger Flags framework: 1. **Build mental models** of common danger flags — know when you're on treacherous terrain before a bad outcome occurs 2. **Navigate skillfully** — filter out people with dangerous patterns, set formal life policies about who you'll associate with, and manage structure so negative traits don't surface at disastrous times 3. **Self-examination** (hardest) — spot aspects of your own character that others would flag, and methodically eliminate unreliability, whimsy, discourtesy, naivete, and foolhardiness **Self-application is the hardest**: "It is harsh to stare at the Sun. One's eyes burn." But this is the most valuable — understanding your own flaws and managing them out. The lay public cannot see warning signs without training and study. This skill must be deliberately cultivated.