Business Quote by Charles Horton Cooley
“We cannot feel strongly toward the totally unlike because it is unimaginable, unrealizable; nor yet toward the wholly like because it is stale - identity must always be dull company. The power of other natures over us lies in a stimulating difference which causes excitement and opens communication, in ideas similar to our own but not identical, in states of mind attainable but not actual.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Human Nature and the Social Order, 1902
People are drawn to differences that are exciting yet relatable, avoiding extremes of the impossible or the boring.
In simple terms: We seek stimulating yet familiar differences.
Key Takeaway
Embrace balanced novelty.
Themes
identity
difference
excitement
Mood
curious
reflective
Type
philosophical
observational
When to use this quote
- friendships
- creative collaborations
- cultural exchange
- team building
Key Concepts
social psychology
human nature
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you balance novelty and familiarity?
- What differences inspire you without feeling alien?
A Different Perspective
Too much similarity can become dull; too much difference can be alienating.
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