--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Gratitude is like credit; it is the…" description: "\"Gratitude is like credit; it is the backbone of our relations; frequently we pay our debts not because equity demands that we should, but to facilitate..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f9b/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_backbone_gratitude-is-like-credit-it-is-the-backb_1897169.png" --- # Gratitude is like credit; it is the backbone of our… ![“Gratitude is like credit; it is the backbone of our relations; frequently we pay our debts not because equity demands that we should, but to facilitate future loans.” quote by Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f9b/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_backbone_gratitude-is-like-credit-it-is-the-backb_1897169.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f9b/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_backbone_gratitude-is-like-credit-it-is-the-backb_1897169.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f9b/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_backbone_gratitude-is-like-credit-it-is-the-backb_1897169.png) > “Gratitude is like credit; it is the backbone of our relations; frequently we pay our debts not because equity demands that we should, but to facilitate future loans.” [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Gratitude sustains relationships, often motivated by future benefits rather than pure fairness. **In simple terms:** Gratitude helps relationships. Key Takeaway Cultivate genuine appreciation. Themes ethics relationships reciprocity Mood contemplative philosophical Type moral social When to use this quote - building trust - expressing thanks - maintaining networks - negotiating favors Key Concepts Social capital moral duty Questions to Reflect On - Do we thank for genuine feeling or future gain? - How to keep gratitude authentic? A Different Perspective May become transactional, losing sincerity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Backbone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/backbone/) [Credit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/credit/) [Demand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/demand/) [Equity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/equity/) [Gratitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gratitude/) ## Related quotes > [Gratitude is like the good faith of traders: it maintains commerce, and we often pay, not because it is just to discharge our debts,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/gratitude-is-like-the-good-faith-of-traders-it-maintains-commerce-and/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [We often pay our debts not because it is only fair that we should, but to make future loans easier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/we-often-pay-our-debts-not-because-it-is-only-fair-that-we-should-but/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [Gratitude, like love, lives and grows in our hearts. You brought joy to our day, Warmth to our lives, and Happiness to our hearts.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/gratitude-like-love-lives-and-grows-in-our-hearts-you-brought-joy-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Gratitude is like a flashlight. It lights up what is already there. You don't necessarily have anything more or different, but suddenly you can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-j-ryan/gratitude-is-like-a-flashlight-it-lights-up-what-is-already-there-you/) [M. J. Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-j-ryan/) > [“Obedience through fear is reluctant and resentful. Obedience through gratitude is joyful, instant, and spontaneous. Gratitude is like an overflowing stream, positive, outgoing. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daw-nyein-tha/obedience-through-fear-is-reluctant-and-resentful-obedience-through/) Daw Nyein Tha > [Gratitude, like love, is never a dependable international emotion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-alsop/gratitude-like-love-is-never-a-dependable-international-emotion/) [Joseph Alsop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-alsop/) > [Gratitude is like love or fresh air - you can't get too much of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-laporte/gratitude-is-like-love-or-fresh-air-you-can-t-get-too-much-of-it/) [Danielle LaPorte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-laporte/) > [Gratitude, like faith, is a muscle. The more you use it, the stronger it grows, and the more power you have to use it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-cohen/gratitude-like-faith-is-a-muscle-the-more-you-use-it-the-stronger-it/) [Alan Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-cohen/) > [Friendship based solely upon gratitude is like a photograph; with time it fades.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/friendship-based-solely-upon-gratitude-is-like-a-photograph-with-time/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Gratitude is like a radio wave, available for all, but only those who CHOOSE to tune in will experience it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zane-baker/gratitude-is-like-a-radio-wave-available-for-all-but-only-those-who/) Zane Baker > [Grace and gratitude go together like heaven and earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-barth/grace-and-gratitude-go-together-like-heaven-and-earth/) [Karl Barth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-barth/) > [Gratitude is like a magnet; the more grateful you are, the more you will receive to be grateful for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iyanla-vanzant/gratitude-is-like-a-magnet-the-more-grateful-you-are-the-more-you/) [Iyanla Vanzant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iyanla-vanzant/) > [“Life without Gratitude, is like trying to drown your sorrows by teaching them to swim.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-d-longoria-jr/life-without-gratitude-is-like-trying-to-drown-your-sorrows-by/) [Raymond D. Longoria Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-d-longoria-jr/) > [Expressing gratitude seems like a cosmic invitation for all kinds of thankfulness and appreciation to pour in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-anne-radmacher/expressing-gratitude-seems-like-a-cosmic-invitation-for-all-kinds-of/) [Mary Anne Radmacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-anne-radmacher/) > [When your heart's gratitude comes to the fore, when you become all gratitude, this gratitude is like a flow, a flow of consciousness. When…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-chinmoy/when-your-heart-s-gratitude-comes-to-the-fore-when-you-become-all/) [Sri Chinmoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-chinmoy/) ## More by Francois de La Rochefoucauld > [Our own distrust gives a fair pretence for the knavery of other people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/our-own-distrust-gives-a-fair-pretence-for-the-knavery-of-other-people/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [Behind many acts that are thought ridiculous there lie wise and weighty motives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/behind-many-acts-that-are-thought-ridiculous-there-lie-wise-and/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [“Passion often makes a madman of the cleverest man, and renders the greatest fools clever.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/passion-often-makes-a-madman-of-the-cleverest-man-and-renders-the/) [François de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [Perseverance is neither praiseworthy nor blameworthy; for it seems to be only the enduring of certain inclinations and opinions which men neither give themselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/perseverance-is-neither-praiseworthy-nor-blameworthy-for-it-seems-to/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [A woman is faithful to her first lover for a long time - unless she happens to take a second.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/a-woman-is-faithful-to-her-first-lover-for-a-long-time-unless-she/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [We are almost always wearied in the company of persons with whom we are not permitted to be weary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/we-are-almost-always-wearied-in-the-company-of-persons-with-whom-we/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [The love of new acquaintance comes not so much from being weary of what we had before, or from any satisfaction there is in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/the-love-of-new-acquaintance-comes-not-so-much-from-being-weary-of/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [It is sometimes necessary to play the fool to avoid being deceived by cunning men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/it-is-sometimes-necessary-to-play-the-fool-to-avoid-being-deceived-by/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [The intention of never deceiving often exposes us to deception.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/the-intention-of-never-deceiving-often-exposes-us-to-deception/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [Jealousy springs more from love of self than from love of another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/jealousy-springs-more-from-love-of-self-than-from-love-of-another/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [Our distrust of another justifies his deceit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/our-distrust-of-another-justifies-his-deceit/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [No persons are more frequently wrong, than those who will not admit they are wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/no-persons-are-more-frequently-wrong-than-those-who-will-not-admit/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [Jealousy is always born with love, but does not die with it. In jealousy there is more of self-love than of love to another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/jealousy-is-always-born-with-love-but-does-not-die-with-it-in/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [The greatest of all gifts is the power to estimate things at their true worth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/the-greatest-of-all-gifts-is-the-power-to-estimate-things-at-their/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [We have not strength enough to follow our reason so far as it would carry us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/we-have-not-strength-enough-to-follow-our-reason-so-far-as-it-would/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) [Explore all 1,134 Francois de La Rochefoucauld quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) ## More Backbone quotes > [“The Lord gave you a backbone because He wanted you to use it. So use it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-wilgus/the-lord-gave-you-a-backbone-because-he-wanted-you-to-use-it-so-use-it/) [Nick Wilgus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-wilgus/) > [Making money isn't the backbone of our guiding purpose; it is the by-product of our guiding purpose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/making-money-isn-t-the-backbone-of-our-guiding-purpose-it-is-the-by/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) > [Truth of life is that in difficult times, my family was my backbone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manisha-koirala/truth-of-life-is-that-in-difficult-times-my-family-was-my-backbone/) [Manisha Koirala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manisha-koirala/) > [Gaming is the backbone of Nevada's economy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-guinn/gaming-is-the-backbone-of-nevada-s-economy/) [Kenny Guinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-guinn/) > [A true leader must have enough backbone to stand alone - even when the crowd wants to take the easy road home. A true…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-ludy/a-true-leader-must-have-enough-backbone-to-stand-alone-even-when-the/) [Leslie Ludy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-ludy/) > [General Petraeus is a man that has the backbone that somebody like President-elect Trump would love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-scaramucci/general-petraeus-is-a-man-that-has-the-backbone-that-somebody-like/) [Anthony Scaramucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-scaramucci/) > [My Christian faith is my backbone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bear-grylls/my-christian-faith-is-my-backbone/) [Bear Grylls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bear-grylls/) > [“Better to get spine broken than bend it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/better-to-get-spine-broken-than-bend-it/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [The backbone of our nation's domestic defense against terrorist attacks will continue to be the men and women in local law enforcement and emergency…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saxby-chambliss/the-backbone-of-our-nation-s-domestic-defense-against-terrorist/) [Saxby Chambliss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saxby-chambliss/) > [If an adversary didn't target our power plants but they did target the core routers, the backbones that tie our internet connections together, entire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/if-an-adversary-didn-t-target-our-power-plants-but-they-did-target/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [I don't have any contempt for the men who have to have jobs and have to commute and have to pay the mortgage and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sloan-wilson/i-don-t-have-any-contempt-for-the-men-who-have-to-have-jobs-and-have/) [Sloan Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sloan-wilson/) > [News is the backbone of our network; the main commodity and the main successes of Al Jazeera came out of our involvement in covering…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wadah-khanfar/news-is-the-backbone-of-our-network-the-main-commodity-and-the-main/) [Wadah Khanfar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wadah-khanfar/) > [He was a tool of the boss, without brains or backbone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-kafka/he-was-a-tool-of-the-boss-without-brains-or-backbone/) [Franz Kafka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-kafka/) > [Inflationism is a dreadful cancer that is gnawing at the backbone of the civilized order.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-f-sennholz/inflationism-is-a-dreadful-cancer-that-is-gnawing-at-the-backbone-of/) [Hans F. Sennholz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-f-sennholz/) > [To succeed, we must have the will to succeed, we must have stamina, determination, backbone, perseverance, self-reliance, and faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-c-forbes/to-succeed-we-must-have-the-will-to-succeed-we-must-have-stamina/) [B. C. Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-c-forbes/) [Browse all 318 Backbone quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/backbone/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Gratitude is like credit; it is the backbone of our relations; frequently we pay our debts not because equity demands that we should, but to facilitate future loans.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Francois de La Rochefoucauld" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/gratitude-is-like-credit-it-is-the-backbone-of-our-relations/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Backbone" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/gratitude-is-like-credit-it-is-the-backbone-of-our-relations/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f9b/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_backbone_gratitude-is-like-credit-it-is-the-backb_1897169.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f9b/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_backbone_gratitude-is-like-credit-it-is-the-backb_1897169.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f9b/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_backbone_gratitude-is-like-credit-it-is-the-backb_1897169.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Gratitude is like credit; it is the backbone of our relations; frequently we pay our debts not because…” — Francois de La Rochefoucauld", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Francois de La Rochefoucauld", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Gratitude is like credit; it is...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/gratitude-is-like-credit-it-is-the-backbone-of-our-relations/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/gratitude-is-like-credit-it-is-the-backbone-of-our-relations/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```