--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Our natures own predilections and…" description: "\"“Our natures own predilections and antipathies alike strange. There are people from whom we secretly shrink, whom we would personally avoid, though rea..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/07f/charlotte-bronte-144_antipathy_our-natures-own-predilections-and-antipa_103804.jpg" --- # Our natures own predilections and antipathies alike… ![“Our natures own predilections and antipathies alike strange. There are people from whom we secretly shrink, whom we would personally avoid, though reason confesses that they are good people: there are others with faults of temper, &c., evident enough, beside whom we live content, as if the air…” quote by Charlotte Brontë](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/07f/charlotte-bronte-144_antipathy_our-natures-own-predilections-and-antipa_103804.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/07f/charlotte-bronte-144_antipathy_our-natures-own-predilections-and-antipa_103804.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/07f/charlotte-bronte-144_antipathy_our-natures-own-predilections-and-antipa_103804.jpg) > ““Our natures own predilections and antipathies alike strange. There are people from whom we secretly shrink, whom we would personally avoid, though reason confesses that they are good people: there are others with faults of temper, &c., evident enough, beside whom we live content, as if the air about them did us good.”” [Charlotte Brontë](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People feel instinctive aversion or comfort toward others based on subtle traits, even when rational judgment recognizes their goodness. **In simple terms:** Instincts shape social preferences. Key Takeaway Unconscious biases influence relationships. Themes psychology social perception bias human nature Mood thoughtful curious Type philosophical social observation When to use this quote - meeting a new coworker - choosing a roommate - forming a friendship - selecting a partner Key Concepts implicit bias social intuition Practical Applications - Practice mindfulness to counteract bias - Seek diverse interactions Questions to Reflect On - What hidden biases guide your friendships? - Can you change an instinctive dislike? A Different Perspective Rational assessment can outweigh instinct over time. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Antipathies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/antipathies-1251285/) [Antipathies Alike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/antipathies-alike-1251283/) [Antipathy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/antipathy/) [Faults](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faults/) [Good people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-people/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [People Faults](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-faults-1186926/) [Personality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/personality/) [Predilection](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/predilection-148488/) [Predilections Antipathies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/predilections-antipathies-1251284/) [Temper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/temper/) ## Related quotes > [Our prejudices, our antipathies, are our natural defenses against what we could not assimilate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-clifford-barney/our-prejudices-our-antipathies-are-our-natural-defenses-against-what/) [Natalie Clifford Barney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-clifford-barney/) > [Violent antipathies are always suspicious, and betray a secret affinity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-hazlitt/violent-antipathies-are-always-suspicious-and-betray-a-secret-affinity/) [William Hazlitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-hazlitt/) > [Nothing is more essential, than that permanent, inveterate antipathies against particular Nations, and passionate attachments for others, should be excluded; and that, in place…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/nothing-is-more-essential-than-that-permanent-inveterate-antipathies/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [We are bound together by the sympathy of our antipathies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-joyce/we-are-bound-together-by-the-sympathy-of-our-antipathies/) [James Joyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-joyce/) > [“There are people from whom we secretly shrink, whom we would personally avoid, though reason confesses that they are good people: there are others…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/there-are-people-from-whom-we-secretly-shrink-whom-we-would/) [Charlotte Brontë](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) > [“Sympathies and antipathies . . . Human friendships can very quickly become a club of mediocrities, enclosed in mutual flattery and approval, preventing people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-vanier/sympathies-and-antipathies-human-friendships-can-very-quickly-become/) [Jean Vanier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-vanier/) > [predilection, n. The preparatory stage of disillusion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/predilection-n-the-preparatory-stage-of-disillusion/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [Everyone I know has a predilection for sharing words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julien-baker/everyone-i-know-has-a-predilection-for-sharing-words/) [Julien Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julien-baker/) > [“People cannot help their predilections, although they may conceal them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonia-fraser/people-cannot-help-their-predilections-although-they-may-conceal-them/) [Antonia Fraser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonia-fraser/) > [“As you grow old, if you don't earn some money or inspiration out of your hobby, you will stop pursuing your hobby.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/as-you-grow-old-if-you-don-t-earn-some-money-or-inspiration-out-of/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [“Some people would regard people who look like they do as ugly if they did not look like them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/some-people-would-regard-people-who-look-like-they-do-as-ugly-if-they/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [“Habits are good if you have the habit of the best.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/habits-are-good-if-you-have-the-habit-of-the-best/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [I do seem to have a bit of a predilection for movies that say something transgressive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-gyllenhaal/i-do-seem-to-have-a-bit-of-a-predilection-for-movies-that-say/) [Maggie Gyllenhaal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-gyllenhaal/) > [“In essence, what is forbidden to do is likewise forbidden as an object of reflection. Included in this is thinking about the weaknesses or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hamza-yusuf/in-essence-what-is-forbidden-to-do-is-likewise-forbidden-as-an-object/) [Hamza Yusuf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hamza-yusuf/) > [People have their faults, but it doesn't prevent you from loving them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-delpy/people-have-their-faults-but-it-doesn-t-prevent-you-from-loving-them/) [Julie Delpy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-delpy/) ## More by Charlotte Brontë > [When we are struck at without a reason, we should strike back again very hard; I am sure we should - so hard as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/when-we-are-struck-at-without-a-reason-we-should-strike-back-again/) [Charlotte Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) > [My God, whose son, as on this night, took on Him the form of man, and for man vouchsafed to suffer and bleed, controls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/my-god-whose-son-as-on-this-night-took-on-him-the-form-of-man-and-for/) [Charlotte Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) > [“A deal of people, Miss, are for trusting all to Providence; but I say Providence will not dispense with the means, though He often…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/a-deal-of-people-miss-are-for-trusting-all-to-providence-but-i-say/) [Charlotte Brontë](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) > [“This night is not calm; the equinox still struggles in its storms. The wild rains of the day are abated; the great single cloud…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/this-night-is-not-calm-the-equinox-still-struggles-in-its-storms-the/) [Charlotte Brontë](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) > [“How dare I, Mrs Reed? How dare I? Because it is the truth. You think I have no feelings, and that I can do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/how-dare-i-mrs-reed-how-dare-i-because-it-is-the-truth-you-think-i/) [Charlotte Brontë](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) > [“If men could see us as we really are, they would be a little amazed; but the cleverest, the acutest men are often under…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/if-men-could-see-us-as-we-really-are-they-would-be-a-little-amazed/) [Charlotte Brontë](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) > [If all the world hated you and believed you wicked, while your own conscience approved of you and absolved you from guilt, you would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/if-all-the-world-hated-you-and-believed-you-wicked-while-your-own/) [Charlotte Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) > [Life appears to me too short to be spent in nursing animosity, or registering wrongs. With this creed, revenge never worries my heart, degradation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/life-appears-to-me-too-short-to-be-spent-in-nursing-animosity-or/) [Charlotte Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) > [Poverty, for me, is synonymous with degradation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/poverty-for-me-is-synonymous-with-degradation/) [Charlotte Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) > [When his first-born was put into his arms, he could see that the boy had inherited his own eyes, as they once were -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/when-his-first-born-was-put-into-his-arms-he-could-see-that-the-boy/) [Charlotte Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) > [Talented people almost always know full well the excellence that is in them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/talented-people-almost-always-know-full-well-the-excellence-that-is/) [Charlotte Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) > [“Not one spark of spirit, not one symptom of resistance, would they have shown till the hand of the Corsican bandit had grasped that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/not-one-spark-of-spirit-not-one-symptom-of-resistance-would-they-have/) [Charlotte Brontë](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) > [“Love can excuse anything except meanness; but meanness kills love, cripples even natural affection; without esteem true love cannot exist.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/love-can-excuse-anything-except-meanness-but-meanness-kills-love/) [Charlotte Brontë](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) > [I think you will learn to be natural with me, as I find it impossible to be conventional with you](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/i-think-you-will-learn-to-be-natural-with-me-as-i-find-it-impossible/) [Charlotte Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) > [“You are no ruin sir--no lighting-struck tree: you are green and vigorous. Plants will grow about your roots, whether you ask them or not,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/you-are-no-ruin-sir-no-lighting-struck-tree-you-are-green-and/) [Charlotte Brontë](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) [Explore all 1,082 Charlotte Brontë quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) ## More Antipathy quotes > [ANTIPATHY, n. The sentiment inspired by one's friend's friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/antipathy-n-the-sentiment-inspired-by-one-s-friend-s-friend/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [The double law of attraction and radiation or of sympathy and antipathy, of fixedness and movement, which is the principle of Creation, and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-pike/the-double-law-of-attraction-and-radiation-or-of-sympathy-and/) [Albert Pike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-pike/) > [If people tell you what you really don't want to hear what's unpleasant-there's an almost automatic reaction of antipathy. You have to train yourself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/if-people-tell-you-what-you-really-don-t-want-to-hear-what-s/) [Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/) > [I do not dislike the French from the vulgar antipathy between neighboring nations, but for their insolent and unfounded air of superiority.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-walpole/i-do-not-dislike-the-french-from-the-vulgar-antipathy-between/) [Horace Walpole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-walpole/) > [Above all things the mass-mind is most bitterly resentful of superiority. It will not tolerate the thought of an elite; and under a political…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-j-nock/above-all-things-the-mass-mind-is-most-bitterly-resentful-of/) [Albert J. Nock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-j-nock/) > [The thing about youthful offenders is that no one seems to care about them. Most people don't like adolescents - even the good ones…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayelet-waldman/the-thing-about-youthful-offenders-is-that-no-one-seems-to-care-about/) [Ayelet Waldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayelet-waldman/) > [Dread is a sympathetic antipathy and an antipathetic sympathy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soren-kierkegaard/dread-is-a-sympathetic-antipathy-and-an-antipathetic-sympathy/) [Soren Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soren-kierkegaard/) > [The Americans are poor haters in international affairs because of their innate feeling of superiority over all foreigners. An American's hatred for a fellow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-americans-are-poor-haters-in-international-affairs-because-of/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [An aphorism is a mental exercise, psychical, logical, linguistic, spiritual, ritual, emotional and rational, it is a major conceptual and literary activity, a mixture…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-c-brown/an-aphorism-is-a-mental-exercise-psychical-logical-linguistic/) [William C. Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-c-brown/) > [Theoretically, we Mennonites do not even know what we look like, since a focus on our personal appearance is vainglorious. Our antipathy to vainglory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhoda-janzen/theoretically-we-mennonites-do-not-even-know-what-we-look-like-since/) [Rhoda Janzen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhoda-janzen/) > [Nothing is more essential, than that permanent, inveterate antipathies against particular Nations, and passionate attachments for others, should be excluded; and that, in place…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/nothing-is-more-essential-than-that-permanent-inveterate-antipathies/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [A woman may very well form a friendship with a man, but for this to endure, it must be assisted by a little physical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/a-woman-may-very-well-form-a-friendship-with-a-man-but-for-this-to/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [ “He had been dazzled. Because of the dazzling brightness, he had had to kill \[Seigen\]. All who had encountered Seigen had had their hearts… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/takayuki-yamaguchi/he-had-been-dazzled-because-of-the-dazzling-brightness-he-had-had-to/) [Takayuki Yamaguchi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/takayuki-yamaguchi/) > [Our prejudices, our antipathies, are our natural defenses against what we could not assimilate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-clifford-barney/our-prejudices-our-antipathies-are-our-natural-defenses-against-what/) [Natalie Clifford Barney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-clifford-barney/) > [“For the same sentiment of antipathy, if implicitly deferred to, may be, and very frequently is, productive of the very worst effects. Antipathy, therefore,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-bentham/for-the-same-sentiment-of-antipathy-if-implicitly-deferred-to-may-be/) [Jeremy Bentham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-bentham/) [Browse all 82 Antipathy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/antipathy/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Our natures own predilections and antipathies alike strange. 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