We all want to believe in the good in people. It’s human nature to give the benefit of the doubt, to hope that someone who let us down once won’t do it again. But how many times should we let someone disappoint us before we finally learn the lesson?
"Never trust someone who has let you down more than two times. Once was a warning, twice was a lesson, anything more than that is simply taking advantage."
This quote perfectly captures a painful truth many of us eventually come to realise. Trust is a fragile thing. Once broken, it’s hard to piece back together. The first time someone fails you, it can be chalked up to a mistake—maybe miscommunication, maybe bad timing. It hurts, but you forgive. The second time? That’s your cue to step back and reflect. Patterns are forming. If you give them a third, fourth, or fifth chance, at that point it’s not on them anymore—it’s on you.
People who consistently let you down aren’t making mistakes—they're making choices. And each time you allow it, you’re silently telling them that their behaviour is acceptable. They start to believe they can disappoint you without consequences.
There’s nothing wrong with being kind. But there’s a fine line between kindness and self-neglect. Emotional self-respect means setting boundaries and learning when to walk away—not out of bitterness, but out of self-preservation.
So if you're in a situation where someone has let you down repeatedly, pause and ask yourself: Are they really sorry, or are they just used to you forgiving them? Are you hoping they’ll change, or are you afraid to let go?
Remember—fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. Fool me three times… I wasn’t paying attention.
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