Familiarity does not breed contempt, lack of respect does.
Author notes
This defines the true cause of contempt, and cuts both ways.
That is, if you have no respect for another it can cause them to have contempt for you; just as one who shows no respect for you can cause you to have contempt for them.
Written January 17th, 2005
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Hmmm.... great line.. I think this is a brilliant thought. Very insightful. best of luck in the contest!!!
A MURDEROUS LAMENT <\\3 -
Deep!
Wow I think people should frame this on their door lol...you did wonderful thanks for sharing huney 
Kari -
How observant this commentator is! I thought I had discovered an epigrammatic truism, here.
Preaching and poeticising can be the same thing as in much of William Wordsworth's didactic, long poems. Or even his: "The child is father to the man".
Edited on Jun 05, 7:08 because ''. -
Indeed karabi! The difference is in the willingness and ability to practice it
Thank you for providing a QED for this one.
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poor
Preaching and poetising are not the same thing. -
Thank you, AtVar! I had always thought the line, 'familiarity breeds contempt', made no realistic sense. So, that's my answer to it. I'm a minimalist by nature, so the shortest way to express a profound thought is what I prefer to do. I write haiku too
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What can I say?
I've never seen a one-liner on a poetry site. If I had seen this anywhere else, I would have called it a really cool quote. The contest this was entered into must have been a hard one to judge. What inspired you to write this particular line?
How long did you think on what to write?
Usually when I write, a small idea comes to me, and I write it down, and it expands from there. Even then, I am nowhere near as eloquent with my words in even my longest of poems and/or stories.
I think you hit a gold mine with this one
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Ah, how could I remain in love with my husband for 27 years without respect? You say it well.
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Amazing words!! great job my friend! thanks for entering and good luck
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Well...
I had to look up that word 
but now I've found out what it really means, there's not much more to say that I agree with you, and that you have a very powerful line here... well done!
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That is really true.
~Laila~ -
Too true, I think pages worth would never have come close. Thank you for giving something to consider. Also challenges the way some people rely on idioms rather than think their own thoughts through. I really liked it. Thank you. Ascoltatore.
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Thank you, Susan! Yes, I know what you mean, but with those types familiarity actually helps one to see that they never had any respect for someone else. That's what I mean, that it cuts both ways.
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respect, once lost is one of the hardest things to regain. It is right up there with trust. I do not believe we should have to earn these with each new encounter, but must strive to not lose them.
There is one aspect of the original statement I do agree with though. And that is in the case of the unsavory few who's true character is only seen with time.
I do like you twist on this though it makes one think.
Susan
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I have always believed the saying that what goes around comes around(...even though it appears that so much of the time those who hurt go free). You capture a truth here in one line, what you give returns to you. Wise and perfectly phrased.
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Excellent!
Excellent! Too often familiarity is used as a scapegoat for bad manors and rudeness. I believe the longer you know someone the easier it should be to appreciate and respect them. I believe it's a question of taking people for granted and having our priorities all mixed up. Wise words to live by! -
Very true, this would be wise advice to deliver during certain debates. I like how it's simple, yet deep enough to stand alone if you just think about it for a second. Good job
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This is very true. When a person is familiar with another person, more than likely they are respectable of that person, because there are various things they know about them. Now that shoe, in most cases, could not fit as well on the other foot. As a rule, one finds it hard to become familiar with a person there is no respect for, whether the contempt stems from standards or attitudes. This is a very philosphical one-liner my friend and quite easy to comprehend. The best of luck in this challenge to you.
Renee
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so true gen
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beautiful, insightful line. filled with so many thoughts yet spoken with so few words...its a wonder how your works are so deep, yet so short. i wish atleast one of my writings could turn out that way. great write
-megan- -
True
I have found that the world is reflective - it gives back what we give. It's very sobering, that angry people find people that make them angry, and peaceful people find wonderful people everywhere. This is also true of respect, and so while your line appears to be a commonplace, it truly shows the cause of contempt. What goes around, comes around.
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