“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
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“To borrow against the trust someone has placed in you costs nothing at first... when you open them there’s nothing there.” — Jeanette Winterson. This powerful quote serves as a gentle yet profound reminder of how easily we can lose what matters most in pursuit of fleeting gains. True wealth lies in integrity and the deep connections we keep. How do you protect the trust others place in you? Let's chat in the comments below! 👇✨
About this quote
Trust is one of the most fragile and precious currencies of the human heart. When we first compromise someone's faith in us—perhaps through a small lie, a broken promise, or a selfish shortcut—it feels weightless. Jeanette Winterson's profound words remind us that betrayal rarely happens all at once; it is a slow, insidious erosion. We convince ourselves that taking a little more won't hurt, mistaking temporary gain for true fulfillment, until the well of trust is entirely drained. Yet, the true tragedy of breaking someone's trust isn't just the loss of their faith, but the ultimate emptiness it leaves within ourselves. We spend our energy taking, manipulating, and borrowing against a bond meant to be cherished, believing we are accumulating something of value. But when the illusion finally shatters and we look at what we've grasped, our hands are entirely empty. True connection, love, and self-respect cannot be stolen or borrowed—they must be earned, nurtured, and fiercely protected.
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