QUOTATION: If he does really think that there is no distinction between virtue and vice, why, sir, when he leaves our houses let us count our spoons.

ATTRIBUTION: Life of Johnson (Boswell). 1 Vol. ii. Chap. v. 1763.

The quotation seems to be saying that if a person thinks there is no distinction between right and wrong, when he leaves our house, we had better count our spoons. There seems to be no other meaning of “court our spoons” except the literal one.

I would think that the expression stated the way you put it would mean basically “trust no one” (count your spoons when people have been around?”) Just a guess since you do not indicate a context for the phrase.