Skip to content

Accepted Quote by Charles Horton Cooley

“If we divine a discrepancy between a man's words and his character, the whole impression of him becomes broken and painful; he revolts the imagination by his lack of unity, and even the good in him is hardly accepted.” quote by Charles Horton Cooley
Download Open image
“If we divine a discrepancy between a man's words and his character, the whole impression of him becomes broken and painful; he revolts the imagination by his lack of unity, and even the good in him is hardly accepted.”

Charles Horton Cooley

About This Quote

Source Book: Human Nature and the Social Order, 1920

When words and character clash, the person seems fragmented, making it hard to accept even their good traits.

In simple terms: Inconsistent behavior breaks trust.

Key Takeaway

Align actions with words.

Themes

trust integrity perception

Mood

reflective concerned

Type

analytical psychological

When to use this quote

  • relationships
  • leadership
  • public speaking

Key Concepts

cognitive dissonance social judgment identity

Questions to Reflect On

  • What causes the gap between speech and behavior?
  • How can you restore trust after inconsistency?
A Different Perspective

People may change; context matters.

3.0 out of 5 (9 ratings)

More by Charles Horton Cooley

Explore all 81 Charles Horton Cooley quotes

More Accepted quotes

Browse all 2,128 Accepted quotes