---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I do not know how it comes about, but if…"
description: "\"I do not know how it comes about, but if you sit opposite a man every day and you are engaged in fighting him, you cannot help getting a liking for him..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e26/arthur-balfour-15770_deserve_i-do-not-know-how-it-comes-about-but-if_1819035.png"
---

#  I do not know how it comes about, but if you sit opposite…

![“I do not know how it comes about, but if you sit opposite a man every day and you are engaged in fighting him, you cannot help getting a liking for him whether he deserves it or not.” quote by Arthur Balfour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e26/arthur-balfour-15770_deserve_i-do-not-know-how-it-comes-about-but-if_1819035.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e26/arthur-balfour-15770_deserve_i-do-not-know-how-it-comes-about-but-if_1819035.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e26/arthur-balfour-15770_deserve_i-do-not-know-how-it-comes-about-but-if_1819035.png)

> “I do not know how it comes about, but if you sit opposite a man every day and you are engaged in fighting him, you cannot help getting a liking for him whether he deserves it or not.”

[Arthur Balfour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-balfour/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Regular close interaction with an opponent can foster unexpected respect, regardless of merit

**In simple terms:** Frequent conflict can create unwanted affection

Key Takeaway

Beware of bias from repeated exposure

Themes

psychology relationships bias

Mood

reflective cautious

Type

advice observational

When to use this quote

- teamwork
- negotiations
- conflict resolution
- leadership

Key Concepts

cognitive dissonance in-group favoritism

Questions to Reflect On

- How does familiarity affect your judgments?
- Can you separate personal feelings from professional assessment?

A Different Perspective

Respect may be undeserved if based solely on familiarity

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Deserve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deserve/) [Engaged](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/engaged/) [Every day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/every-day/) [Fighting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fighting/) [Getting Liking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/getting-liking-2178030/) [Helping](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/helping/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Know how](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know-how/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Liking Deserves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liking-deserves-2178029/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Opposite Man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opposite-man-2178027/) [Opposites](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opposites/) [Sit Opposite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sit-opposite-2178028/) [Wrestling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wrestling/)

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## More by Arthur Balfour

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