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Familiarity breeds contempt

Meaning: Being too close to something can reduce appreciation for it.

Origin: Latin proverb (Nimia familiaritas parit contemptum) from the 4th century.

Translations

  • French: La familiarité engendre le mépris (literally: Familiarity breeds contempt)
  • Spanish: La confianza da asco (literally: Familiarity breeds disgust)
  • Japanese: 親しき仲にも礼儀あり (Shitashiki naka ni mo reigi ari) (literally: Even in close relationships, there is etiquette)

More proverbs about Human Nature

  • Tell me who your friends are and I'll tell you who you are — The company you keep reflects and shapes your own character.
  • One kind word can warm three winter months — A single act of kindness has an impact far greater and longer-lasting than the moment it…
  • Only the wearer knows where the shoe pinches — Only the person experiencing a difficulty truly understands its depth.
  • Even the sun has its spots — Nothing and nobody is perfect; even the greatest things have their flaws.
  • The forest would be silent if no bird sang except the one that sang best — Everyone has a unique contribution; holding back out of self-doubt robs the world.
  • As the twig is bent, so grows the tree — Early experiences and upbringing shape a person's lifelong character and habits.

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