--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Successful adult relationships, whether…" description: "\"Successful adult relationships, whether between lovers or friends, require a significant degree of vulnerability, trust, and openness-\" — Susan Forward" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a2/susan-forward-4980_adults_successful-adult-relationships-whether-b_1937576.jpg" --- # Successful adult relationships, whether between lovers or… ![“Successful adult relationships, whether between lovers or friends, require a significant degree of vulnerability, trust, and openness-” quote by Susan Forward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a2/susan-forward-4980_adults_successful-adult-relationships-whether-b_1937576.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a2/susan-forward-4980_adults_successful-adult-relationships-whether-b_1937576.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a2/susan-forward-4980_adults_successful-adult-relationships-whether-b_1937576.jpg) > “Successful adult relationships, whether between lovers or friends, require a significant degree of vulnerability, trust, and openness-” [Susan Forward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-forward/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Vulnerability, trust, and openness are essential foundations for healthy adult relationships, whether romantic or platonic. **In simple terms:** Open, trusting bonds need vulnerability. Key Takeaway Practice honest communication and share feelings. Themes trust vulnerability relationships Mood empathetic encouraging Type advice relationship When to use this quote - dating - friendships - team projects - family dynamics Key Concepts attachment theory emotional intimacy communication skills Questions to Reflect On - Are you comfortable sharing your true feelings? - How can you balance openness with boundaries? A Different Perspective Too much openness can lead to exploitation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Adults](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adults/) [Friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship/) [Lovers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lovers/) [Openness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/openness/) [Relationship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/relationship/) [Relationships](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/relationships/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Successful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/successful/) [Trust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trust/) [Vulnerability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vulnerability/) ## Related quotes > [“Developing a healthy pride in and acceptance of our essential, lovable self helps develop the neural circuitry that leads to trust, openness, more learning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-mft-linda/developing-a-healthy-pride-in-and-acceptance-of-our-essential-lovable/) [Graham MFT, Linda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-mft-linda/) > [If I create anything, I create the atmosphere of trust and openness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sante-d-orazio/if-i-create-anything-i-create-the-atmosphere-of-trust-and-openness/) [Sante D'Orazio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sante-d-orazio/) > [The intention and outcome of vulnerability is trust, intimacy and connection. The outcome of oversharing is distrust, disconnection - and usually a little judgment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/the-intention-and-outcome-of-vulnerability-is-trust-intimacy-and/) [Brene Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) > [“In families like Fred's, much of a child's identity and his illusions of safety depend on feeling enmeshed. He develops a need to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-forward/in-families-like-fred-s-much-of-a-child-s-identity-and-his-illusions/) [Susan Forward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-forward/) > [In Hollywood most of the films we see are all about the relationships between lovers, but as massively important as that is in someone's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dawn-o-porter/in-hollywood-most-of-the-films-we-see-are-all-about-the-relationships/) [Dawn O'Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dawn-o-porter/) > [I'm more interested in interpersonal relationships - between lovers families, siblings. That's why I write about how we treat each other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-mcmillan/i-m-more-interested-in-interpersonal-relationships-between-lovers/) [Terry McMillan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-mcmillan/) > [“My generation was weaned on subliminal advertising, stupid television, slasher movies, insipid grocery-store literature, MTV, VCRs, fast food, infomercials, glossy ads, diet aids, plastic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marya-hornbacher/my-generation-was-weaned-on-subliminal-advertising-stupid-television/) [Marya Hornbacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marya-hornbacher/) > [I'm one of the most successful adult movie directors in the business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stormy-daniels/i-m-one-of-the-most-successful-adult-movie-directors-in-the-business/) [Stormy Daniels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stormy-daniels/) > [If you have a built-in level of respect and trust and openness to essentially be yourself, it allows for a deeper uncensored communication \[with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-gere/if-you-have-a-built-in-level-of-respect-and-trust-and-openness-to/) [Richard Gere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-gere/) > [I think that being a conscious parent opens your eyes to the fact that any adult relationships that you have, whenever children are present…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-krause/i-think-that-being-a-conscious-parent-opens-your-eyes-to-the-fact/) [Peter Krause](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-krause/) > [“Relationships are physics. Time transforms things- it has to, because the change from me to we means clearing away the fortifications you'r put up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darin-strauss/relationships-are-physics-time-transforms-things-it-has-to-because/) [Darin Strauss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darin-strauss/) > [“Survivors often develop an exaggerated need for control in their adult relationships. It’s the only way they feel safe. They also struggle with commitment—saying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-davis/survivors-often-develop-an-exaggerated-need-for-control-in-their/) [Laura Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-davis/) > [“Usually adult males who are unable to make emotional connections with the women they choose to be intimate with are frozen in time, unable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/usually-adult-males-who-are-unable-to-make-emotional-connections-with/) [bell hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [“This was just how adult relationships were, how love felt once you had a few battle scars.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gayle-forman/this-was-just-how-adult-relationships-were-how-love-felt-once-you-had/) [Gayle Forman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gayle-forman/) > [Whereas European films have traditionally been able to go into adult relationships. I think there's a huge audience in America for those kinds of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-kaufman/whereas-european-films-have-traditionally-been-able-to-go-into-adult/) [Philip Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-kaufman/) ## More by Susan Forward > [“Instead of promoting healthy development, they unconsciously undermine it, often with the belief that they are acting in their child’s best interest.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-forward/instead-of-promoting-healthy-development-they-unconsciously-undermine/) [Susan Forward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-forward/) > [Criticism is the fountainhead of control.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-forward/criticism-is-the-fountainhead-of-control/) [Susan Forward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-forward/) > [“It’s amazing how people can change behind closed doors.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-forward/it-s-amazing-how-people-can-change-behind-closed-doors/) [Susan Forward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-forward/) > [“The initial disappointment for the misogynist usually occurs early in the relationship. However, because there is so much excitement and romance going on, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-forward/the-initial-disappointment-for-the-misogynist-usually-occurs-early-in/) [Susan Forward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-forward/) > [“Reality Check His lying is not contigent on who you are or what you do. His lying is not your fault. Lying is his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-forward/reality-check-his-lying-is-not-contigent-on-who-you-are-or-what-you/) [Susan Forward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-forward/) > [“Many misogynists use this method of turning the tables to deflect blame from themselves. They may say: "You are too sensitive"; "You're overreacting"; "You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-forward/many-misogynists-use-this-method-of-turning-the-tables-to-deflect/) [Susan Forward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-forward/) > [“Children expect different things from each parent. Traditionally, the mother is expected to protect and defend the children, while the father is seen as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-forward/children-expect-different-things-from-each-parent-traditionally-the/) [Susan Forward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-forward/) > [“Our laws and institutions concerning women's rights and male prerogatives are changing, but many men still believe that their masculine image depends on their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-forward/our-laws-and-institutions-concerning-women-s-rights-and-male/) [Susan Forward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-forward/) > [“As children, because of our dependency, we experience a sense of being powerless in a world of powerful people. If our home environments are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-forward/as-children-because-of-our-dependency-we-experience-a-sense-of-being/) [Susan Forward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-forward/) > [“Some misogynists do not resort to the obvious cruelty of scare tactics and screamed insults to gain control of their partners. Instead of raising…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-forward/some-misogynists-do-not-resort-to-the-obvious-cruelty-of-scare/) [Susan Forward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-forward/) > [“Children from high-drama households often grow up with the idea that tension is an integral part of love. Therefore, the girl who grows up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-forward/children-from-high-drama-households-often-grow-up-with-the-idea-that/) [Susan Forward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-forward/) > [“Anger is a normal human emotion and all children experience it to some degree, but many parents have difficulty dealing with it. Often they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-forward/anger-is-a-normal-human-emotion-and-all-children-experience-it-to/) [Susan Forward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-forward/) > [When your lover is a liar, you and he have a lot in common, you're both lying to you!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-forward/when-your-lover-is-a-liar-you-and-he-have-a-lot-in-common-you-re-both/) [Susan Forward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-forward/) > [“Women in troubled marriages frequently try to work out their problems through their children. Whether a woman does this through the extremes of overwhelming…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-forward/women-in-troubled-marriages-frequently-try-to-work-out-their-problems/) [Susan Forward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-forward/) > [“Inherent in his fear of this dependency is the equally dreadful fear that she will leave him. His terrors of being alone, of being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-forward/inherent-in-his-fear-of-this-dependency-is-the-equally-dreadful-fear/) [Susan Forward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-forward/) [Explore all 102 Susan Forward quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-forward/) ## More Adults quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [Behind every successful child is an adult who believed in him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/behind-every-successful-child-is-an-adult-who-believed-in-him/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. Expressing gratitude by writing in a journal, taking a photo, or shooting a video creates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-kaplan/gratitude-isn-t-just-a-feeling-it-s-an-action-expressing-gratitude-by/) [Janice Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-kaplan/) > [The thing about hitting kids is, think about if you were doing the same thing to another adult. Hitting your kid is really the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-braff/the-thing-about-hitting-kids-is-think-about-if-you-were-doing-the/) [Zach Braff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-braff/) > [Plainly, the environment must be a living one, directed by a higher intelligence, arranged by an adult who is prepared for his mission.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-montessori/plainly-the-environment-must-be-a-living-one-directed-by-a-higher/) [Maria Montessori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-montessori/) > [Almost everywhere we find . . . the use of various coercive measures, to rid ourselves as quickly as possible of the child withinus--i.e.,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-miller/almost-everywhere-we-find-the-use-of-various-coercive-measures-to-rid/) [Alice Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-miller/) > [Education, for most people, means trying to lead the child to resemble the typical adult of his society . . . but for me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-piaget/education-for-most-people-means-trying-to-lead-the-child-to-resemble/) [Jean Piaget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-piaget/) > [I do not believe in public shaming. I do believe that young adults go to college to learn things, and that this process will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-weingarten/i-do-not-believe-in-public-shaming-i-do-believe-that-young-adults-go/) [Gene Weingarten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-weingarten/) > [The Role of Deliberate Practice in the Acquisition of Expert Performance”: “The differences between expert performers and normal adults are not immutable, that is,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-anders-ericsson/the-role-of-deliberate-practice-in-the-acquisition-of-expert/) K. Anders Ericsson > [Part of life is doing stuff that you don't want to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/one-who-does-not-wish-to-be-named/part-of-life-is-doing-stuff-that-you-don-t-want-to-do/) One Who Does Not Wish To Be Named > [ He \[an earnest young reporter\] seemed to share the view of many intelligent, well-educated, well-meaning people that, while adult literature may aim to be… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-paterson/he-an-earnest-young-reporter-seemed-to-share-the-view-of-many/) [Katherine Paterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-paterson/) > [Kids, if anything, are harder to write for because they are a more discerning audience. They will not stay with you if you go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/kids-if-anything-are-harder-to-write-for-because-they-are-a-more/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [On the one hand, we had great filmic spectacles that brought in big audiences, adults as well as primary and secondary school students. On…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrzej-wajda/on-the-one-hand-we-had-great-filmic-spectacles-that-brought-in-big/) [Andrzej Wajda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrzej-wajda/) > [It's hard to change adults, and it's hard to change it from a political position or a perceived political position.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-obama/it-s-hard-to-change-adults-and-it-s-hard-to-change-it-from-a/) [Michelle Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-obama/) > [When I was a child at sixteen, I was just a child. All sixteen year-olds are just children. As much as we like them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-abagnale/when-i-was-a-child-at-sixteen-i-was-just-a-child-all-sixteen-year/) [Frank Abagnale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-abagnale/) [Browse all 3,113 Adults quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adults/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Successful adult relationships, whether between lovers or friends, require a significant degree of vulnerability, trust, and openness-", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Susan Forward" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-forward/successful-adult-relationships-whether-between-lovers-or-friends/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Adults" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-forward/successful-adult-relationships-whether-between-lovers-or-friends/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a2/susan-forward-4980_adults_successful-adult-relationships-whether-b_1937576.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a2/susan-forward-4980_adults_successful-adult-relationships-whether-b_1937576.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a2/susan-forward-4980_adults_successful-adult-relationships-whether-b_1937576.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Successful adult relationships, whether between lovers or friends, require a significant degree of…” — Susan Forward", "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": "Susan Forward", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-forward/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Successful adult relationships, whether between lovers...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-forward/successful-adult-relationships-whether-between-lovers-or-friends/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-forward/successful-adult-relationships-whether-between-lovers-or-friends/#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 } } ] } ```