So, as the thread states, what are the 3 most important things? This does not have to be a love relationship, but just any relationship...friends, family, etc. 

I think one of them has to absolutely be love. That's what sort of brings the relationship together...a wanting to be close. Even if you become friends (friend relationship), there is love. Not literally, like marriage-type love, but rather a bond more than anything. 

Another I would have to say is trust. More often than not do I see relationships split due to trust issues. With no trust, there is a "wall"...can you really have a friend who may be insincere and untrustworthy? 

As for the last thing, I would say it is a toss up. I am actually unsure what component you may also need, for the 2 I stated already seem to be building blocks...as the relationship progresses, so do more aspects of one appear. Literal love, understanding, etc. 

I would probably say, honesty, patience and forgiveness are pretty important and here is why I think so:

You obviously need honesty or trust because without it you cant trust your family or the people you are in a relationship with. So if you don't have it, then that relationship isn't going to go anywhere. You need to be able to trust them and you cannot lie to them, so honesty is very important in a relationship of any kind. 

You also need patience because there will always be tough times in every relationship and you will need patience to overcome it. You cannot just give or quit because things do not go your way, that is childish. You have to be patient and mature in a relationship, work things out and do not quit or get upset because something does not go your way. So patience is also very crucial as well.

Lastly, you need forgiveness, you can't hold a grudge against someone forever or just give them the cold shoulder. You have to learn to forgive people, this is why a lot of relationships break, something happens, someone gets blamed and it is over. You have to learn how to forgive others and put the past behind you and move on. So this is the last thing I think a good relationship should definitely have. 


So those are the things I think a good relationship needs in order to be successful or long lasting, whether it is marriage or family, these are still very important things. 

Trust, trust, and trust.

It's that easy.  If you trust the other person then everything else falls into place.  You can forgive them because they didn't mean to hurt you.  You can let them do their own activities and you're not worried about what they are doing.  You can do your own thing and not be afraid of their reaction if they find out.  Communication requires trust with each other to be open and honest.

All things come from trust.  I trust my wife with not only the thousands of dollars in our bank account but her name is on the deed to our house and the titles to our cars.  She could leave me with nothing if she wanted.

She won't.  We trust each other.

Well all I can say is that trust, communication, and love because without any of these, the relationship wouldn't be as stable.

I would say: mutual respect, trust and forgiveness

I am going to be talking about a love relationship. Now the first thing you need for a loving relationship is to actually love the person you are loving. I know it sounds rather obvious to point out but let's be honest here, most men are attracted to girls just from appearance. I know that from experience. I once thought I loved this one girl but when I began to actually talk to her, I hated her personality and so I gave up my hopes to make out with her!
The second thing you need is commitment. If you let the lady do all the work or in some cases the other way around the person doing all the work will get fed up, Very Fed Up!! You need to do tasks equally, almost as if you had a brother an sister chore chart. Say if one person in the relationship is always buying dinner, the other must commit to buy lunch for the 1st person to show consideration.
The last thing you need is respect. If your boyfriend or girlfriend says something you do not agree with you can not just go and lash out at him or her. Neither can you laugh if they say something stupid. You must respect their opinions and beliefs or theywill not respect yours and in worst cases end your relationship! 

What a sweet subject to talk about!

Well, I think the sincerity/honestity, to have commune things with your partner and to help each other when it is needed/stay close to your friend (boyfriend or girlfriend).


Regards, Sorinkun
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Sidewinder : It's been said a bunch but you really need trust to have a healthy relationship. Because you can't be with your significant other all of the time. If you try to be that could make the other feel smothered and sometimes people just need to do their own thing. As for the other two, I think forgiveness because people aren't perfect and attraction... Not just in looks but also their personalities, everyone ages and if you're only in it because they look good you will be sorry in 10-20 years.

Well, many are saying love, trust, patience. I do agree with those. But I think that there is something that might be more important than all 3 for a relationship to work. Compatibility. The reason why I say that is because relationships fail all the time even though they trust each other and love each other. But if they simply are not compatible, those two things will not hold the relationship. That is why so many who clearly have a bad relationship/marriage try so hard to stay together. They still love each other madly and trust was never an issue. But they just aren't compatible, and the amount they loved each other didn't mean they were right for each other. 

So, compatibility is my 3rd thing, and you can take your pick of some of the other things that have already been said for my other two. The other two things won't save the relationship if the two aren't compatible. 

The first and most important thing that is needed in a relationship is of course love. The second most important thing is for the couple to be  just as rcarter2 says, compability. And last (but not least) trust,  you can't have a relation that feels comfortable for both persons if there is no trust, you will just end up fighting and spying on eachother all the time.

Pretty much how I look at it, it's all about if the person you're in a relationship with, he/she has to be trustworthy, financial capable (not too little or too much), and if they really love you and not using you. 

Boy, girl, and the suffix -friend following.

I believe the three most important things rely on one's personal self
AKA: why invest in the unknown of someone else when your own personality is at risk of fault? So here are my three:

1) Personal/Self Restraint: To be loyal in the heart and mind, not just the actions. A simple "I love you" won't go very far if you have thoughts of bitterness or malice against your brother/sister/friend. As for a love relationship, don't go too far with your freedoms: we all know what real cheating is; be loyal to to those you love internally, to affect the reality you seek.

2) Successful: how can a man save his brother from drowning if he too, is drowning in the same water? He must first get out of the water to save his brother. What I am getting at is this: in order to even consider helping those we care for, we must tend to our own foundations to stabilize ourselves. If we build no home, what will save us from the rain life brings us (I'm speaking in metaphor)? If one builds his own shelter, than those you love will have a place to take cover in during the moments of "bad weather."

3) Sacrificing: This is the hardest thing to do concerning the lines of love (for me at least, but Wisdom tells me to try). As any relationship progress there will be time where one will call upon the other for aid (whether it be for help, selfish intentions, money issues, advice, etc). This is a tricky business because you may end up getting "played/used" or you may end up being the small drop of salvation for someone's better future. All I can say is this... if I love someone, then they have already received my unyielding trust (of course discretion is used when necessary; never live in naivity), therefore I will not think twice about giving them what the ask for. Though it may stunt my personal progress from time to time, but it'll be worth it while I'm on my deathbed.

I want them to die knowing I loved them, because I want to die knowing they love me.

For me, it's three things. Trust, Respect, and though it's shallow, a mutual attraction.

#1 being trust. How can you truly be together if you can't trust the other is going to be faithful? How can you accomplish any long standing friendship if there's no trust? You need it in more than just relationships, but for a relationship you HAVE to and I repeat HAVE to have it. No ifs ands or buts.

Then respect. I shouldn't have to say anything about this. If you don't respect your partner, break off your relationship. If you can't respect your significant other, your partner deserves better. And you deserve someone you CAN respect.

Finally, the elephant in the room. Mutual attraction.

I'm sorry, but I need to be attracted to who I am with. I should want to look at my partner all the time. I am more likely to do this if she is cute.