The toughest thing about the power of trust is that it's very

Hear the words of Thomas J. Watson, titan of commerce and architect of IBM, who declared: “The toughest thing about the power of trust is that it’s very difficult to build and very easy to destroy. The essence of trust building is to emphasize the similarities between you and the customer.” Though spoken in the marketplace, these words carry the weight of eternal wisdom, for they concern not only the bond of trade, but the very fabric of human relations. What is a nation, a family, or a friendship, if not a covenant of trust? And what is ruin, if not the breaking of that covenant?

The ancients knew well the fragility of trust. They told of kings whose empires collapsed not by the strength of enemies, but by the betrayal of allies. They warned that a single lie could undo the work of many years, and that a single act of betrayal could poison the memory of countless deeds of loyalty. This is why Watson speaks of trust as both powerful and perilous: it is a fortress built stone by stone with patience, but a single crack may bring down the walls.

Consider the tale of Julius Caesar and his friend Brutus. For years Caesar gathered loyalty, built alliances, and won the faith of the Roman people. Yet when Brutus, one he considered close as a son, struck against him, the trust that bound Rome unraveled. The wound of betrayal was deeper than any sword could cut. This story, remembered for centuries, shows how difficult it is to build trust, and how easily it can be destroyed.

Yet Watson does not speak only of warning—he also gives counsel. He tells us that the key to building trust is to find and emphasize similarities. The ancients, too, understood this truth. The Greeks called it philia, the bond of likeness and friendship. To find common ground is to remind another: You are not alone, for I am like you. It is through shared values, shared struggles, and shared hopes that trust takes root. Without this sense of kinship, even the strongest contract will wither.

History gives us noble examples. Consider Franklin D. Roosevelt in the days of the Great Depression. He spoke to the American people in his “fireside chats” not as a distant ruler but as a neighbor. By emphasizing their similarities—their shared fears, their shared desire for renewal—he built a bridge of trust between leader and people. Though the nation was trembling, his words restored courage, and through that courage, action. Here we see Watson’s wisdom alive: trust is born not of superiority, but of connection.

The lesson is clear: to build trust, seek always what unites rather than what divides. In the marketplace, this means listening to the customer and showing them their values are your own. In life, this means finding the common thread of humanity that binds every soul. Beware arrogance, beware deception, for they corrode trust swiftly. Choose instead honesty, empathy, and consistency, for these are the stones from which trust’s fortress is built.

So, children of tomorrow, remember Watson’s words: trust is fragile, but it is also the most powerful bond you can create. Do not treat it lightly. Dedicate yourself to building it carefully, protect it as you would a sacred treasure, and never forget that its essence lies in the recognition of our shared likeness. For when men and women trust one another, families flourish, communities endure, nations prosper, and even the marketplace becomes a place not of exploitation, but of mutual respect. This is the eternal teaching hidden within Watson’s words, and it is a guide for all who would lead, serve, and live with honor.