--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Familiarity breeds contempt, but without…" description: "\"Familiarity breeds contempt, but without a little familiarity it's impossible to breed anything.\" — Noel Coward" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8cf/noel-coward-2647_contempt_familiarity-breeds-contempt-but-without_3204001.png" --- # Familiarity breeds contempt, but without a little… ![“Familiarity breeds contempt, but without a little familiarity it's impossible to breed anything.” quote by Noel Coward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8cf/noel-coward-2647_contempt_familiarity-breeds-contempt-but-without_3204001.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8cf/noel-coward-2647_contempt_familiarity-breeds-contempt-but-without_3204001.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8cf/noel-coward-2647_contempt_familiarity-breeds-contempt-but-without_3204001.png) > “Familiarity breeds contempt, but without a little familiarity it's impossible to breed anything.” [Noel Coward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noel-coward/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Familiarity can lead to disdain, yet some familiarity is needed to create any connection or understanding. **In simple terms:** Too much familiarity breeds contempt; some familiarity is needed. Key Takeaway Balance closeness and distance. Themes relationships trust communication Mood cautious reflective Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - friendships - teamwork - creative collaborations Key Concepts social dynamics psychology Questions to Reflect On - How much distance preserves respect? - When does familiarity become harmful? A Different Perspective Too much familiarity can erode respect. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Breeds Contempt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/breeds-contempt-235327/) [Contempt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contempt/) [Familiarity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/familiarity/) [Familiarity Breeds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/familiarity-breeds-235328/) [Familiarity breeds contempt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/familiarity-breeds-contempt-61163/) [Familiarity Impossible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/familiarity-impossible-5959284/) [Impossible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/impossible/) [Little Familiarity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/little-familiarity-3068506/) [Littles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/littles/) [Sex](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sex/) ## Related quotes > [Familiarity breeds contempt only when it breeds inattention.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-santayana/familiarity-breeds-contempt-only-when-it-breeds-inattention/) [George Santayana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-santayana/) > [My philosophy is familiarity breeds contempt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chaka-khan/my-philosophy-is-familiarity-breeds-contempt/) [Chaka Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chaka-khan/) > [Familiarity breeds contempt. By bringing them in close, they realize that you’re just as human as they are. That’s when the madness sets in.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/familiarity-breeds-contempt-by-bringing-them-in-close-they-realize/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [Familiarity breeds contempt, while rarity wins admiration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/apuleius/familiarity-breeds-contempt-while-rarity-wins-admiration/) [Apuleius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/apuleius/) > [Familiarity breeds contempt. How accurate that is. The reason we hold truth in such respect is because we have so little opportunity to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/familiarity-breeds-contempt-how-accurate-that-is-the-reason-we-hold/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [There can be no prestige without mystery, for familiarity breeds contempt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-de-gaulle/there-can-be-no-prestige-without-mystery-for-familiarity-breeds/) [Charles de Gaulle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-de-gaulle/) > [Familiarity breeds contempt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop/familiarity-breeds-contempt/) [Aesop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop/) > [Familiarity breeds contempt - and children.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/familiarity-breeds-contempt-and-children/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [Too much familiarity breeds contempt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/too-much-familiarity-breeds-contempt/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [A very little familiarity with the poor districts of any city is sufficient to show how primitive and genuine are the neighborly relations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-addams/a-very-little-familiarity-with-the-poor-districts-of-any-city-is/) [Jane Addams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-addams/) > [But we're very much an American band and that's that. I think that's part of the appeal outside of this country and it might…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-stipe/but-we-re-very-much-an-american-band-and-that-s-that-i-think-that-s/) [Michael Stipe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-stipe/) > [Like any friendship or marriage, familiarity breeds more contempt, and love, and everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-freeman/like-any-friendship-or-marriage-familiarity-breeds-more-contempt-and/) [Martin Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-freeman/) > [Familiarity breeds democracry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/florence-king/familiarity-breeds-democracry/) [Florence King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/florence-king/) > [In communications, familiarity breeds apathy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-bernbach/in-communications-familiarity-breeds-apathy/) [William Bernbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-bernbach/) > [Distance makes the heart grow fonder, and familiarity breeds contempt. According to this my soulmate should be in Thailand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/distance-makes-the-heart-grow-fonder-and-familiarity-breeds-contempt/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Noel Coward > [Acting is not a state of being ... but a state of appearing to be. You can't be eight times a week without going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noel-coward/acting-is-not-a-state-of-being-but-a-state-of-appearing-to-be-you-can/) [Noel Coward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noel-coward/) > [It is discouraging how many people are shocked by honesty and how few by deceit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noel-coward/it-is-discouraging-how-many-people-are-shocked-by-honesty-and-how-few/) [Noel Coward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noel-coward/) > [I'll go through life either first class or third, but never in second.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noel-coward/i-ll-go-through-life-either-first-class-or-third-but-never-in-second/) [Noel Coward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noel-coward/) > [Everybody worships me, it's nauseating.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noel-coward/everybody-worships-me-it-s-nauseating/) [Noel Coward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noel-coward/) > [Mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the mid-day sun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noel-coward/mad-dogs-and-englishmen-go-out-in-the-mid-day-sun/) [Noel Coward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noel-coward/) > [That strange feeling we had inthe war. Have you found anything in your lives since toequal it in strength? A sort of splendid carelessness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noel-coward/that-strange-feeling-we-had-inthe-war-have-you-found-anything-in-your/) [Noël Coward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noel-coward/) > [Wit ought to be a glorious treat like caviar; never spread it about like marmalade.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noel-coward/wit-ought-to-be-a-glorious-treat-like-caviar-never-spread-it-about/) [Noel Coward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noel-coward/) > [Squash - that's not exercise, it's flagellation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noel-coward/squash-that-s-not-exercise-it-s-flagellation/) [Noel Coward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noel-coward/) > [If you must have motivation, think of your paycheck on Friday.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noel-coward/if-you-must-have-motivation-think-of-your-paycheck-on-friday/) [Noel Coward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noel-coward/) > [“A.E. Matthews ambled through This Was a Man like a charming retriever who has buried a bone and can't quite remember where.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noel-coward/a-e-matthews-ambled-through-this-was-a-man-like-a-charming-retriever/) [Noel Coward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noel-coward/) > [“Television is for appearing on - not for looking at.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noel-coward/television-is-for-appearing-on-not-for-looking-at/) [Noël Coward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noel-coward/) > [“I like long walks, especialy when they are taken by people who annoy me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noel-coward/i-like-long-walks-especialy-when-they-are-taken-by-people-who-annoy-me/) [Noel Coward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noel-coward/) > [Hollywood is a place where some people lie on the beach and look up at the stars, whereas other people lie on the stars…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noel-coward/hollywood-is-a-place-where-some-people-lie-on-the-beach-and-look-up/) [Noel Coward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noel-coward/) > [Grab it while you can — grab every scrap of happiness while you can](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noel-coward/grab-it-while-you-can-grab-every-scrap-of-happiness-while-you-can/) [Noel Coward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noel-coward/) > [My importance to the world is relatively small. On the other hand, my importance to myself is tremendous. I am all I have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noel-coward/my-importance-to-the-world-is-relatively-small-on-the-other-hand-my/) [Noel Coward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noel-coward/) [Explore all 156 Noel Coward quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noel-coward/) ## More Contempt quotes > [Too much familiarity breeds contempt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/too-much-familiarity-breeds-contempt/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [The contempt for law and the contempt for the human consequences of lawbreaking go from the bottom to the top of American society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mead/the-contempt-for-law-and-the-contempt-for-the-human-consequences-of/) [Margaret Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mead/) > [Our security depends on having good relationships with our allies. Donald Trump mainly shows contempt for them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-wolfowitz/our-security-depends-on-having-good-relationships-with-our-allies/) [Paul Wolfowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-wolfowitz/) > [Show your contempt for the problem and your concern for the person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/show-your-contempt-for-the-problem-and-your-concern-for-the-person/) [Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/) > [There is no real elevation of mind in a contempt of little things; it is, on the contrary, from too narrow views that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-fenelon/there-is-no-real-elevation-of-mind-in-a-contempt-of-little-things-it/) [Francois Fenelon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-fenelon/) > [Boasting and bravado may exist in the breast even of the coward, if he is successful through a mere lucky hit; but a just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thucydides/boasting-and-bravado-may-exist-in-the-breast-even-of-the-coward-if-he/) [Thucydides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thucydides/) > [Somebody once told me that if you laugh at a George Bush joke, or you send an email cartoon to your friends that makes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-ramis/somebody-once-told-me-that-if-you-laugh-at-a-george-bush-joke-or-you/) [Harold Ramis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-ramis/) > [Unless a man gives himself entirely to the Cross, in a spirit of humility and self-abasement; unless he casts himself down to be trampled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-the-evangelist/unless-a-man-gives-himself-entirely-to-the-cross-in-a-spirit-of/) [Mark the Evangelist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-the-evangelist/) > [Much of the same sort of degraded and filthy talk can still be heard among the orc-minded; dreary and repetitive with hatred and contempt,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-r-tolkien-2/much-of-the-same-sort-of-degraded-and-filthy-talk-can-still-be-heard/) [J. R. R. Tolkien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-r-tolkien-2/) > [Contempt for an assailant is best shown by bravery in action.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thucydides/contempt-for-an-assailant-is-best-shown-by-bravery-in-action/) [Thucydides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thucydides/) > [Statuettes of drunken sailors, velvet pictures of island maidens, plastic seashell lamps made in Taiwan. What contempt the people who think up souvenirs have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-johnson/statuettes-of-drunken-sailors-velvet-pictures-of-island-maidens/) [Diane Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-johnson/) > [Every person of any rank in the left, from voter on up to cabinet member to elected official in the Democrat Party, has contempt.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/every-person-of-any-rank-in-the-left-from-voter-on-up-to-cabinet/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [Those with a gift for action, for their part, often express contempt for those whose gifts are more reflective. Men of action like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ignatieff/those-with-a-gift-for-action-for-their-part-often-express-contempt/) [Michael Ignatieff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ignatieff/) > [“opprobrious term, employed to impose contempt upon”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jabari-asim/opprobrious-term-employed-to-impose-contempt-upon/) [Jabari Asim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jabari-asim/) > [Heterosexual intercourse is the pure, formalized expression of contempt for women's bodies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-dworkin/heterosexual-intercourse-is-the-pure-formalized-expression-of/) [Andrea Dworkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-dworkin/) [Browse all 1,034 Contempt quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contempt/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Familiarity breeds contempt, but without a little familiarity it's impossible to breed anything.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Noel Coward" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noel-coward/familiarity-breeds-contempt-but-without-a-little-familiarity-it-s/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Contempt" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noel-coward/familiarity-breeds-contempt-but-without-a-little-familiarity-it-s/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8cf/noel-coward-2647_contempt_familiarity-breeds-contempt-but-without_3204001.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8cf/noel-coward-2647_contempt_familiarity-breeds-contempt-but-without_3204001.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8cf/noel-coward-2647_contempt_familiarity-breeds-contempt-but-without_3204001.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Familiarity breeds contempt, but without a little familiarity it's impossible to breed anything.” — Noel Coward", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Noel Coward", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noel-coward/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Familiarity breeds contempt, but without a...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noel-coward/familiarity-breeds-contempt-but-without-a-little-familiarity-it-s/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noel-coward/familiarity-breeds-contempt-but-without-a-little-familiarity-it-s/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```