--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Trust is a fragile thing - difficult to…" description: "\"Trust is a fragile thing - difficult to build, easy to break. It cannot be bargained for. Only if it is freely given it can be expected in return\" — Pe..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d5/peter-lerangis-14885_break_trust-is-a-fragile-thing-difficult-to-bu_2385656.jpg" --- # Trust is a fragile thing - difficult to build, easy to… ![“Trust is a fragile thing - difficult to build, easy to break. It cannot be bargained for. Only if it is freely given it can be expected in return” quote by Peter Lerangis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d5/peter-lerangis-14885_break_trust-is-a-fragile-thing-difficult-to-bu_2385656.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d5/peter-lerangis-14885_break_trust-is-a-fragile-thing-difficult-to-bu_2385656.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d5/peter-lerangis-14885_break_trust-is-a-fragile-thing-difficult-to-bu_2385656.jpg) > “Trust is a fragile thing - difficult to build, easy to break. It cannot be bargained for. Only if it is freely given it can be expected in return” [Peter Lerangis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-lerangis/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Trust is hard to earn, easy to lose, and cannot be bought; it must be freely given to be expected back. **In simple terms:** Trust is fragile and must be earned. Key Takeaway Earn trust through genuine actions. Themes trust relationships integrity vulnerability Mood reflective cautious Type ethical philosophical When to use this quote - teamwork - friendships - leadership - customer service Key Concepts social contract reciprocity ethical behavior Questions to Reflect On - How do you rebuild trust after it’s broken? - What actions demonstrate genuine trust? A Different Perspective Trust can be manipulated if taken for granted. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Fragile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fragile/) [Fragile things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fragile-things/) [Trust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trust/) ## Related quotes > [Trust is a fragile thing. Once earned, it affords us tremendous freedom. But once trust is lost, it can be impossible to recover. Of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-alice/trust-is-a-fragile-thing-once-earned-it-affords-us-tremendous-freedom-2/) [Mary Alice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-alice/) > [“I, of all people, know that trust is fragile, and even the people who love you aren’t above betrayal.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-mcknight/i-of-all-people-know-that-trust-is-fragile-and-even-the-people-who/) [Zoe McKnight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-mcknight/) > [TRUST is a fragile thing. Easy to break, Easy to lose and one of the hardest things to ever get back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/trust-is-a-fragile-thing-easy-to-break-easy-to-lose-and-one-of-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Happiness is a fragile thing, and alcohol, as I know from the house I grew up in, is dangerous to it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-engel/happiness-is-a-fragile-thing-and-alcohol-as-i-know-from-the-house-i/) [Marian Engel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-engel/) > [Human identity is the most fragile thing that we have, and it's often only found in moments of truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-rudolph/human-identity-is-the-most-fragile-thing-that-we-have-and-it-s-often/) [Alan Rudolph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-rudolph/) > [“Memories are fragile things to hold, but many times, it's what we have.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-howard-creel/memories-are-fragile-things-to-hold-but-many-times-it-s-what-we-have/) [Ann Howard Creel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-howard-creel/) > [Ideas are the most fragile things in the world, and if you do not write them down, they will be lost forever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-cooke/ideas-are-the-most-fragile-things-in-the-world-and-if-you-do-not/) [Phil Cooke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-cooke/) > [“Life is fragile. Be cautious in life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/life-is-fragile-be-cautious-in-life/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [Memory, like liberty, is a fragile thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-loftus/memory-like-liberty-is-a-fragile-thing/) [Elizabeth Loftus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-loftus/) > [Friendships are fragile things and require as much care in handling as any other fragile and precious thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randolf-s-bourne/friendships-are-fragile-things-and-require-as-much-care-in-handling/) Randolf S Bourne > [True delicacy is not a fragile thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-broughton/true-delicacy-is-not-a-fragile-thing/) [James Broughton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-broughton/) > [Human beings are fragile things, and for the period of time it takes to get them to Mars and back, you have dangerous radiation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-allen/human-beings-are-fragile-things-and-for-the-period-of-time-it-takes/) [Paul Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-allen/) > [“happiness and love were fragile things. And we should be thankful for what we have when we have it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brenna-aubrey/happiness-and-love-were-fragile-things-and-we-should-be-thankful-for/) [Brenna Aubrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brenna-aubrey/) > [“Hearts were beautifully fierce yet fragile things.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerri-maniscalco/hearts-were-beautifully-fierce-yet-fragile-things/) [Kerri Maniscalco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerri-maniscalco/) > [Mortals are such fragile things. Just tender feelings walking around exposed in their delicate shells...Easy to crush.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-marr/mortals-are-such-fragile-things-just-tender-feelings-walking-around/) [Melissa Marr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-marr/) ## More by Peter Lerangis > [You should climb around inside my brain, Dan. It's like this dark room surrounded by quicksand." "I know what you mean," her brother said…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-lerangis/you-should-climb-around-inside-my-brain-dan-it-s-like-this-dark-room/) [Peter Lerangis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-lerangis/) > [Rock star do not jump!" The launch was cutting sharply, its skipper calling out a phrase that bore no relationship to the English language…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-lerangis/rock-star-do-not-jump-the-launch-was-cutting-sharply-its-skipper/) [Peter Lerangis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-lerangis/) > [“Okay, listen up, dudes. We have to book. Yesterday, when I find you guys are, like, AWOL? I, like, freak. Yelling at everybody– where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-lerangis/okay-listen-up-dudes-we-have-to-book-yesterday-when-i-find-you-guys/) [Peter Lerangis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-lerangis/) > [We meant to temporarily disable her," Ian said. "Just a drop. But Natalie slipped during air turbulence. Before we could warn your nose-ringed nanny,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-lerangis/we-meant-to-temporarily-disable-her-ian-said-just-a-drop-but-natalie/) [Peter Lerangis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-lerangis/) > [It's a token for the arcade games at Laser Sport Time!" Dan hissed. "Uncle Alistair doesn't think so," Amy murmured. "He's a numismatist." "He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-lerangis/it-s-a-token-for-the-arcade-games-at-laser-sport-time-dan-hissed/) [Peter Lerangis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-lerangis/) > [“ Mrrrp? To anyone else in the Cahill universe, the high-pitched sound of the pet Egyptian Mau had a hundred different meanings: the playful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-lerangis/mrrrp-to-anyone-else-in-the-cahill-universe-the-high-pitched-sound-of/) [Peter Lerangis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-lerangis/) > [“The roar of an engine blasted from his left—and a Harley-Davidson motorcycle with flame decals jumped the sidewalk in front of him. A small…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-lerangis/the-roar-of-an-engine-blasted-from-his-left-and-a-harley-davidson/) [Peter Lerangis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-lerangis/) > [“Normal is the enemy of interesting.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-lerangis/normal-is-the-enemy-of-interesting/) [Peter Lerangis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-lerangis/) > [“What's this?" Dan said, pointing to a funny squiggly formation. Uh, an M," said Nellie. "Or if you look at it the other way,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-lerangis/what-s-this-dan-said-pointing-to-a-funny-squiggly-formation-uh-an-m/) [Peter Lerangis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-lerangis/) > [“Amy Cahill didn't believe in omens. But black snow was falling, the earth was rumbling beneath her feet, her brother was meowing, and her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-lerangis/amy-cahill-didn-t-believe-in-omens-but-black-snow-was-falling-the/) [Peter Lerangis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-lerangis/) > [“Imagine! In each of us lies the potential to do superhuman things. Feats of great physical daring, art, science. The ability to defy laws…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-lerangis/imagine-in-each-of-us-lies-the-potential-to-do-superhuman-things/) [Peter Lerangis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-lerangis/) > [You guys are related to Jonah Wizard?" Jake asked, his lip curled disdainfully. "And the other guy," Dan grumbled. "Vin Diesel's stunt double.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-lerangis/you-guys-are-related-to-jonah-wizard-jake-asked-his-lip-curled/) [Peter Lerangis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-lerangis/) > [“Byron had to blink a dozen times, each time hoping the dream would end. But the unreal was real.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-lerangis/byron-had-to-blink-a-dozen-times-each-time-hoping-the-dream-would-end/) [Peter Lerangis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-lerangis/) > [“He wrapped her around his hands and then yanked her inside out.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-lerangis/he-wrapped-her-around-his-hands-and-then-yanked-her-inside-out/) [Peter Lerangis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-lerangis/) > [“Amy was looking around the sanctum in awe. "It's...beautiful!" The girl was modest and thoughtful. How bizarre. So rarely did Ian see these qualities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-lerangis/amy-was-looking-around-the-sanctum-in-awe-it-s-beautiful-the-girl-was/) [Peter Lerangis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-lerangis/) [Explore all 45 Peter Lerangis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-lerangis/) ## More Break quotes > [I made, like, five movies while I was in college. I think they just weren't memorable movies. 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No one can break your heart except you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-zevin/he-didn-t-break-my-heart-no-one-can-break-your-heart-except-you/) [Gabrielle Zevin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-zevin/) > [“She couldn't break the orbit.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-schwab/she-couldn-t-break-the-orbit/) [Victoria Schwab](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-schwab/) > [Your pain is the breaking of the shell that encloses your understanding. Even as the stone of the fruit must break, that its heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalil-gibran/your-pain-is-the-breaking-of-the-shell-that-encloses-your/) [Khalil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalil-gibran/) > [Must I go bound while you go free Must I love a manwho doesn't love me Must I be born with so little art…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/must-i-go-bound-while-you-go-free-must-i-love-a-manwho-doesn-t-love/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [I hadn't worked for a year when I had my Prison Break audition and it was the easiest audition I've ever had. I got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wentworth-miller/i-hadn-t-worked-for-a-year-when-i-had-my-prison-break-audition-and-it/) [Wentworth Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wentworth-miller/) > [If you strike upon a thought that baffles you, break off from that entanglement and try another, so shall your wits be fresh to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristophanes/if-you-strike-upon-a-thought-that-baffles-you-break-off-from-that/) [Aristophanes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristophanes/) > [“A hole ain’t nothing either, but you can still break your neck in it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-donati/a-hole-ain-t-nothing-either-but-you-can-still-break-your-neck-in-it/) [Sara Donati](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-donati/) > [“I break things, a lot of things, but I don’t want one of them to be you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-briggs/i-break-things-a-lot-of-things-but-i-don-t-want-one-of-them-to-be-you/) [Patricia Briggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-briggs/) > [Motor racing's less of a sport these days than a commercial break doing 150 mph.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-dunne/motor-racing-s-less-of-a-sport-these-days-than-a-commercial-break/) Peter Dunne > [Much like teaching art to young art students age 10 to 15 or so on, you have to break it down into bite-sized pieces,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kehinde-wiley/much-like-teaching-art-to-young-art-students-age-10-to-15-or-so-on/) [Kehinde Wiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kehinde-wiley/) > [The purpose is to be in gratitude forever. Live with applied consciousness, prosperity will break through the walls, flood you with it. You do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harbhajan-singh-yogi/the-purpose-is-to-be-in-gratitude-forever-live-with-applied/) [Harbhajan Singh Yogi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harbhajan-singh-yogi/) > [Never break another man's rice bowl.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akio-morita/never-break-another-man-s-rice-bowl/) [Akio Morita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akio-morita/) Browse all 8,188 Break quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Trust is a fragile thing - difficult to build, easy to break. It cannot be bargained for. 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