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To borrow against the trust someone has placed in you…

“To borrow against the trust someone has placed in you costs nothing at first. You get away with it, you take a little more and a little more until there is no more to draw on. Oddly, your hands should be full with all that taking but when you open them there’s nothing there.” quote by Jeanette Winterson
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““To borrow against the trust someone has placed in you costs nothing at first. You get away with it, you take a little more and a little more until there is no more to draw on. Oddly, your hands should be full with all that taking but when you open them there’s nothing there.””

Jeanette Winterson

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Exploiting others' trust feels easy at first but eventually leaves you empty-handed as you keep taking more than you give.

In simple terms: Trust is a resource that can be depleted by greed.

Key Takeaway

Guard your trust and give proportionally.

Themes

trust greed relationships ethics

Mood

cautious reflective

Type

advice philosophical

When to use this quote

  • friendships
  • business deals
  • personal boundaries
  • financial lending

Key Concepts

reciprocity depletion balance

Questions to Reflect On

  • How do you recognize when you’re overusing someone’s trust?
  • What steps can restore a depleted trust relationship?
A Different Perspective

Trust can be rebuilt if acknowledged and repaired.

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