--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Contrary to what most people believe…" description: "\"Contrary to what most people believe, trust is not some soft, illusive quality that you either have or you don't; rather, trust is a pragmatic, tangibl..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/933/stephen-covey-339_assets_contrary-to-what-most-people-believe-tru_66838.png" --- # Contrary to what most people believe, trust is not some… ![“Contrary to what most people believe, trust is not some soft, illusive quality that you either have or you don't; rather, trust is a pragmatic, tangible, actionable asset that you can create.” quote by Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/933/stephen-covey-339_assets_contrary-to-what-most-people-believe-tru_66838.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/933/stephen-covey-339_assets_contrary-to-what-most-people-believe-tru_66838.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/933/stephen-covey-339_assets_contrary-to-what-most-people-believe-tru_66838.png) > “Contrary to what most people believe, trust is not some soft, illusive quality that you either have or you don't; rather, trust is a pragmatic, tangible, actionable asset that you can create.” [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) ## 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 a concrete resource that can be built and leveraged through deliberate actions, not an innate trait. **In simple terms:** Trust is a buildable asset. Key Takeaway Trust can be cultivated and used strategically. Themes leadership psychology organizational behavior relationships trust building Mood confident optimistic pragmatic Type advice observation statement When to use this quote - team meetings - client negotiations - project onboarding - conflict resolution Key Concepts social capital reliability credibility collaboration Practical Applications - leadership training - performance management Questions to Reflect On - How can you measure trust in a team? - What actions most effectively increase trust? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Pragmatic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pragmatic/) [Quality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/quality/) [Trust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trust/) ## Related quotes > [“Trust is not a soft skill.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-horsager/trust-is-not-a-soft-skill/) David Horsager > [“TRUST" 'A soft thread, that could broken while checking it”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samar-sudha/trust-a-soft-thread-that-could-broken-while-checking-it/) [Samar Sudha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samar-sudha/) > [We grow up and meet up too many different people some are there to increase us and some to decrease us, we just have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/refilwe-fifi-mahlangu/we-grow-up-and-meet-up-too-many-different-people-some-are-there-to/) [Refilwe Fifi Mahlangu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/refilwe-fifi-mahlangu/) > [To be able to look a young man in his eyes and believe in him and trust him and push him to be better,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-hill/to-be-able-to-look-a-young-man-in-his-eyes-and-believe-in-him-and/) [George Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-hill/) > [In the end I always believe in myself and trust in myself and always believed in my own strengths, so it didn't really bother…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hakim-ziyech/in-the-end-i-always-believe-in-myself-and-trust-in-myself-and-always/) [Hakim Ziyech](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hakim-ziyech/) > [I believe in it, and I trust it too and treasure it above everything, the personal, the personal, the personal! I put my faith…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eudora-welty/i-believe-in-it-and-i-trust-it-too-and-treasure-it-above-everything/) [Eudora Welty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eudora-welty/) > [I hope we can possess a share of what we believe and trust, then everything will just be fine as it seams.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shappy-song/i-hope-we-can-possess-a-share-of-what-we-believe-and-trust-then/) [Shappy Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shappy-song/) > [I really, sincerely believe that one should trust the work, and not the author.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-greenaway/i-really-sincerely-believe-that-one-should-trust-the-work-and-not-the/) [Peter Greenaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-greenaway/) > [I want to be strong because you believe in me. You have to trust me. I give my knowledge to you. That is my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claudio-ranieri/i-want-to-be-strong-because-you-believe-in-me-you-have-to-trust-me-i/) [Claudio Ranieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claudio-ranieri/) > [“Allow yourself to hope, to believe and to trust again. Don't let a few bad memories stop you from having a good life!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-hale/allow-yourself-to-hope-to-believe-and-to-trust-again-don-t-let-a-few/) [Mandy Hale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-hale/) > [Believe in yourself; trust yourself and always give the best of yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricardo-housham/believe-in-yourself-trust-yourself-and-always-give-the-best-of/) [Ricardo Housham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricardo-housham/) > [I feel like that's a way people can change the way music is - to be guided by someone they believe in and trust.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-bell-bundy/i-feel-like-that-s-a-way-people-can-change-the-way-music-is-to-be/) [Laura Bell Bundy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-bell-bundy/) > [I just feel like it's believing in your instincts or believing in yourself to do something crazy. That's why it's important to believe in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shanice-williams/i-just-feel-like-it-s-believing-in-your-instincts-or-believing-in/) [Shanice Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shanice-williams/) > [Believe in yourself, and trust your own wisdom rather than being swayed bythe opinions of others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rohit-baloria/believe-in-yourself-and-trust-your-own-wisdom-rather-than-being/) Rohit Baloria > [Believe and Trust is what keeps us Going..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junior-d-r-l-testament/believe-and-trust-is-what-keeps-us-going/) Junior Dè Rèál Testament ## More by Stephen Covey > [You can't have the fruits without the roots. It's the principle of sequencing: Private Victories proceed Public Victories. Self-mastery and self-discipline are the foundation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/you-can-t-have-the-fruits-without-the-roots-it-s-the-principle-of/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [Empathic listening takes time, but it doesn't take anywhere near as much time as it takes to back up and correct misunderstandings when you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/empathic-listening-takes-time-but-it-doesn-t-take-anywhere-near-as/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [The fire inside people is like a match; the way to ignite that flame is initially through friction, then other matches are lit through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/the-fire-inside-people-is-like-a-match-the-way-to-ignite-that-flame/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [In a very real sense, there are only two roles in organisations: customers and suppliers. Everybody functions simultaneously in both roles, whether inside or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/in-a-very-real-sense-there-are-only-two-roles-in-organisations/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [To blame and accuse other people, is to choose to empower them, to control us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/to-blame-and-accuse-other-people-is-to-choose-to-empower-them-to/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [Be part of the solution, not part of the problem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/be-part-of-the-solution-not-part-of-the-problem/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [If you are an effective manager of your self, your discipline comes from within; it is a function of your independent will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/if-you-are-an-effective-manager-of-your-self-your-discipline-comes/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [I believe in Coach Louis Wong. He is so much more than just a football coach.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/i-believe-in-coach-louis-wong-he-is-so-much-more-than-just-a-football/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [Most people struggle with life balance simply because they haven't paid the price to decide what is really important to them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/most-people-struggle-with-life-balance-simply-because-they-haven-t/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [Highly proactive people don't blame circumstances, conditions, or conditioning for their behavior. Their behavior is a product of their own conscious choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/highly-proactive-people-don-t-blame-circumstances-conditions-or/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [When it comes to developing character strength, inner security and unique personal and interpersonal talents and skills in a child, no institution can or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/when-it-comes-to-developing-character-strength-inner-security-and/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [Most people define greatness through wealth and popularity and position in the corner office. 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And trust is based on trustworthiness, not politics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/effective-communication-is-built-on-the-cement-of-trust-and-trust-is/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) [Explore all 663 Stephen Covey quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) ## More Assets quotes > [A great smile is a wonderful asset, but a good heart is pure gold.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolly-parton/a-great-smile-is-a-wonderful-asset-but-a-good-heart-is-pure-gold/) [Dolly Parton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolly-parton/) > [Most people put money in their piggy bank. I buy a goose that lays golden eggs over and over again. That's what an asset…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kiyosaki/most-people-put-money-in-their-piggy-bank-i-buy-a-goose-that-lays/) [Robert Kiyosaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kiyosaki/) > [Groupon has some interesting assets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-cohler/groupon-has-some-interesting-assets/) [Matt Cohler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-cohler/) > [Developing expertise or assets that are not easily copied is essential; otherwise you're just a middleman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/developing-expertise-or-assets-that-are-not-easily-copied-is/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [Well I think they broke the mould when they made me and being humble is one of my great assets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-hagman/well-i-think-they-broke-the-mould-when-they-made-me-and-being-humble/) [Larry Hagman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-hagman/) > [3 people get stranded on a remote Island A Banker, a Daily Mail reader & an Asylum seeker All they have to eat is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-brookmyre/3-people-get-stranded-on-a-remote-island-a-banker-a-daily-mail-reader/) [Christopher Brookmyre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-brookmyre/) > [Why doesn't the United States take over the monarchy and unite with England? England does have important assets. Naturally the longer you wait, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-h-auden/why-doesn-t-the-united-states-take-over-the-monarchy-and-unite-with/) [W. H. Auden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-h-auden/) > [You have great assets if you're a dual-threat, but you still have to throw from the pocket and do all those types of things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-mariota/you-have-great-assets-if-you-re-a-dual-threat-but-you-still-have-to/) [Marcus Mariota](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-mariota/) > [Regulations for international accounting and funding will have to be examined to identify policies that inadvertently discourage institutional investors from putting their resources into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-angel-gurria/regulations-for-international-accounting-and-funding-will-have-to-be/) [Jose Angel Gurria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-angel-gurria/) > [I think Kwame will be an asset to the Lakers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kareem-abdul-jabbar/i-think-kwame-will-be-an-asset-to-the-lakers/) [Kareem Abdul-Jabbar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kareem-abdul-jabbar/) > [ \[When I die\], I will decidedly not be regretting missed opportunities for a good time. My regrets will be more along the lines of… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-bourdain/when-i-die-i-will-decidedly-not-be-regretting-missed-opportunities/) [Anthony Bourdain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-bourdain/) > [Sourav's greatest asset is his ability to communicate. He is a naturally very confident person. 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I needed to adopt a steward's mentality toward the assets He had entrusted - not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-alcorn/if-god-was-the-owner-i-was-the-manager-i-needed-to-adopt-a-steward-s/) [Randy Alcorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-alcorn/) Browse all 957 Assets quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Contrary to what most people believe, trust is not some soft, illusive quality that you either have or you don't; rather, trust is a pragmatic, tangible, actionable asset that you can create.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Stephen Covey" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/contrary-to-what-most-people-believe-trust-is-not-some-soft-illusive/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Assets" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/contrary-to-what-most-people-believe-trust-is-not-some-soft-illusive/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/933/stephen-covey-339_assets_contrary-to-what-most-people-believe-tru_66838.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/933/stephen-covey-339_assets_contrary-to-what-most-people-believe-tru_66838.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/933/stephen-covey-339_assets_contrary-to-what-most-people-believe-tru_66838.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Contrary to what most people believe, trust is not some soft, illusive quality that you either have or you…” — Stephen Covey", "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": "Stephen Covey", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Contrary to what most people believe,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/contrary-to-what-most-people-believe-trust-is-not-some-soft-illusive/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/contrary-to-what-most-people-believe-trust-is-not-some-soft-illusive/#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 } } ] } ```