What do you think is the bond or glue that holds a long term relationship together?

Love, respect, compassion, sexual equality, trust and unselfishness to your mate in that order will lead to a lifetime together. You take out any one of these and a marriage will not last happily!!

To me honesty, trust, commitment and mutual respect and having an open mind are what holds a relationship together. If one person distrusts the other, no matter how much love their is the relationship is likely to fail. Couples have to learn to communicate, and that means both people not just one does the talking and the other listens, both need to do some talking and listening. 50/50 !!!

I am divorced because of a spouse that was not honest with me which led to distrust which was earned because he cheated because he didn't know how to communicate and be open and honest. We still love each other but Love just isn't enough.

Respect i think, we have been together nearly two years, if and when we do row, i always hang on to the fact that i love and respect this person, this has helped me keep my mouth shut and not say hurtful things in the heat of the moment that i would never normally mean, b/f does the same....we find now that we hardly ever argue and we dont have spiteful things left hanging in the background ready to rear their ugly head...When i look back on other relationships i realise how easy it was to lose respect for that person, followed fairly swiftly by lack of respect for the relationship and then just wanting the relationship to be over, thankfully i think i've learned my lesson..!

I've been with a great guy for 7 months now, and our relationship's been tested a LOT by having part of that be long distance. But we're still together in our hearts even if not physically, and here's what's done it.

Communication, above all. We always share our feelings, even if they're ones we feel guilty about. If one of us isn't satisfied, the other knows. You can't solve a relationship problem if one of you doesn't know it exists. Yes we argue, but we don't need to yell to do it because you only need to yell if the other person wasn't listening the first time.

Both parties loving each other equally. I adore him, and he adores me, and so we both sacrifice things for each other instead of one person doing all the sacrificing and getting miserable because of it. (This is probably the rarest part to actually get. If it's not there from pretty close to the beginning, nothing you do can make it be there.)

Accepting each other's differences while rejoicing in the similarities. I can be all of myself with him, and give all of myself to him, freely, without being afraid that he'll love me any less because of who I am. And he can do the same with me, because if I haven't stopped loving him after all the crap we've been through, I never will.

Expectations matching reality. I don't expect things out of him that I know aren't in his nature to give/be/do, and he's the same way with me. We do, however, expect each other to be the best person we're willing and able to be.

It really is understanding. Have been married over 17 years. Lots of love, fun, life experiences together, family, good communication, but the real glue is understanding.

Commitment is the glue that holds a relationship together. You need to be committed to doing the work necessary to create and maintain a loving, passionate relationship. If you aren't willing to do this, it probably won't last. This means that you need to learn relationship skills (communication, conflict resolution, intimacy skills). You need to be willing to take marriage education classes and seek counseling as needed. Not a lot of people are willing to do this kind of work. Marriage takes work and it always will.

Not married yet but I am in strong relationship for 7years now and happy. My partner is from different country,of different background and of different religion therefore I can say that Very important is respect,huge tolerance,honesty, flexibility in thinking and pure LOVE.It is not always easy but if you always openly discuss the problems with your loved one I believe you can find always solutions but remeber based on mutual agreement only.Nothing will come easy you have to both work on your relationship,marriage and cherrish it:) It never works if only one gives and the other only takes.

i think duty or familiarity or decision holds a long term relationship together. I think everything comes to an end if you go by your emotions and feelings alone. i've been with someone for 2 years and am very happy i hope it will last forever but i have experienced and seen enough in life to know that this doesnt happen often.

I have been with my boyfriend for 2 years and a month and doing good and we live 334miles from each other the reason it has last this long is b/c we want it too last and we want to be together and so we make it work

I think it is being honest with each other.Making the other one the most important part of your life.Remembering that the other one makes you happy.Not lying to the other person.Caring about the other person feeling,and being commited to your partner.