--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Familiarity with evil breeds not contempt…" description: "\"Familiarity with evil breeds not contempt but acceptance.\" — Roy Hattersley" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa2/roy-hattersley-32441_acceptance_familiarity-with-evil-breeds-not-contemp_2748076.png" --- # Familiarity with evil breeds not contempt but acceptance. ![“Familiarity with evil breeds not contempt but acceptance.” quote by Roy Hattersley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa2/roy-hattersley-32441_acceptance_familiarity-with-evil-breeds-not-contemp_2748076.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa2/roy-hattersley-32441_acceptance_familiarity-with-evil-breeds-not-contemp_2748076.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa2/roy-hattersley-32441_acceptance_familiarity-with-evil-breeds-not-contemp_2748076.png) > “Familiarity with evil breeds not contempt but acceptance.” [Roy Hattersley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-hattersley/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote warns that repeated exposure to evil can lead to acceptance rather than contempt, normalizing wrongdoing. **In simple terms:** Familiarity breeds acceptance of evil. Key Takeaway Stay vigilant against moral decay. Themes evil acceptance morality Mood cautionary reflective Type ethical philosophical When to use this quote - human rights advocacy - ethical training - community vigilance Key Concepts normalization desensitization ethical erosion Questions to Reflect On - How to maintain moral outrage? - Can acceptance ever be justified? A Different Perspective Acceptance may be a coping mechanism. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acceptance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acceptance/) [Contempt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contempt/) [Contempt Acceptance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contempt-acceptance-3078454/) [Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil/) [Evil Breeds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil-breeds-3078455/) [Familiarity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/familiarity/) [Familiarity Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/familiarity-evil-3078453/) [Suffering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suffering/) ## Related quotes > [“When your friend becomes a king, treat him first as a king, then let him choose you as a friend. Acting otherwise is suicidal.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tylor-ilori/when-your-friend-becomes-a-king-treat-him-first-as-a-king-then-let/) [Tylor Ilori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tylor-ilori/) > [The act of evil breeds others to follow, young sins in its own likeness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aeschylus/the-act-of-evil-breeds-others-to-follow-young-sins-in-its-own-likeness/) [Aeschylus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aeschylus/) > [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 doesn't breed contempt, it is contempt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/florence-king/familiarity-doesn-t-breed-contempt-it-is-contempt/) [Florence King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/florence-king/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [Familiarity gives rise to contempt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop/familiarity-gives-rise-to-contempt/) [Aesop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop/) > [Free' is more of that 'familiarity breeds contempt' kind of thing. It's about saying 'Wait, I'm longing for something more than I have and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-crosby/free-is-more-of-that-familiarity-breeds-contempt-kind-of-thing-it-s/) [Jon Crosby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-crosby/) > [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/) > [Familiarity brings contempt but rarity breeds admiration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ogunsakin-ayobami-ayorinde/familiarity-brings-contempt-but-rarity-breeds-admiration/) [Ogunsakin Ayobami Ayorinde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ogunsakin-ayobami-ayorinde/) > [Aaron Sorkin uses a lot of the same people again and again - the people he likes. I think if there's ever a part…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allison-janney/aaron-sorkin-uses-a-lot-of-the-same-people-again-and-again-the-people/) [Allison Janney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allison-janney/) > [Familiarity seems to breed contempt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/familiarity-seems-to-breed-contempt/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [In politics, familiarity doesn't breed contempt. It breeds votes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-lazarsfeld/in-politics-familiarity-doesn-t-breed-contempt-it-breeds-votes/) [Paul Lazarsfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-lazarsfeld/) > [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/) ## More by Roy Hattersley > [People who watch morning television are elderly, infirm or emotionally immature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-hattersley/people-who-watch-morning-television-are-elderly-infirm-or-emotionally/) [Roy Hattersley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-hattersley/) > [In my opinion, any man who can afford to buy a newspaper should not be allowed to own one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-hattersley/in-my-opinion-any-man-who-can-afford-to-buy-a-newspaper-should-not-be/) [Roy Hattersley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-hattersley/) > [The proposition that Muslims are welcome in Britain if, and only if, they stop behaving like Muslims is a doctrine which is incompatible with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-hattersley/the-proposition-that-muslims-are-welcome-in-britain-if-and-only-if/) [Roy Hattersley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-hattersley/) > [I've been in the Labour Party 50 years and it's 40-odd since I was elected to Parliament](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-hattersley/i-ve-been-in-the-labour-party-50-years-and-it-s-40-odd-since-i-was/) [Roy Hattersley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-hattersley/) > [In politics, being ridiculous is more damaging than being extreme.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-hattersley/in-politics-being-ridiculous-is-more-damaging-than-being-extreme/) [Roy Hattersley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-hattersley/) > [The Labour Party can go into the next election united behind the most radical manifesto on which we have ever campaigned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-hattersley/the-labour-party-can-go-into-the-next-election-united-behind-the-most/) [Roy Hattersley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-hattersley/) > [I've never known a time when the in-fighting in the Labour Party was so bitter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-hattersley/i-ve-never-known-a-time-when-the-in-fighting-in-the-labour-party-was/) [Roy Hattersley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-hattersley/) > [One of the problems of our society is that we spend too much time thinking about punishment and not enough about prevention.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-hattersley/one-of-the-problems-of-our-society-is-that-we-spend-too-much-time/) [Roy Hattersley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-hattersley/) > [Morality and expediency coincide more than the cynics allow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-hattersley/morality-and-expediency-coincide-more-than-the-cynics-allow/) [Roy Hattersley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-hattersley/) > [Indeed in my blue and white Sheffield Wednesday heart I applauded and supported his loyalty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-hattersley/indeed-in-my-blue-and-white-sheffield-wednesday-heart-i-applauded-and/) [Roy Hattersley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-hattersley/) > [A crucial contribution to the ideological argument ...it provides a vital part of the intellectual manifesto on which the battle for a better society…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-hattersley/a-crucial-contribution-to-the-ideological-argument-it-provides-a/) [Roy Hattersley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-hattersley/) > [Truth is suppressed, not to protect the country from enemy agents but to protect the Government of the day against the people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-hattersley/truth-is-suppressed-not-to-protect-the-country-from-enemy-agents-but/) [Roy Hattersley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-hattersley/) > [Labour has converted to Europe because Europe has converted to socialism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-hattersley/labour-has-converted-to-europe-because-europe-has-converted-to/) [Roy Hattersley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-hattersley/) > [We atheists have to accept that most believers are better human beings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-hattersley/we-atheists-have-to-accept-that-most-believers-are-better-human-beings/) [Roy Hattersley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-hattersley/) [Explore all 15 Roy Hattersley quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-hattersley/) ## More Acceptance quotes > [We only enter into the full life if our faith gives thanks. Because how else do we accept His free gift of salvation if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/we-only-enter-into-the-full-life-if-our-faith-gives-thanks-because/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [You dont choose your life; it chooses you. Theres no point asking why life has reserved certain joys or griefs, you just accept them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/you-dont-choose-your-life-it-chooses-you-theres-no-point-asking-why/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [Losing someone is easy, but accepting it is hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/losing-someone-is-easy-but-accepting-it-is-hard/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When one fib becomes due as it were, you must forge another to take up the old acceptance; and so the stock of your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-makepeace-thackeray/when-one-fib-becomes-due-as-it-were-you-must-forge-another-to-take-up/) [William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-makepeace-thackeray/) > [Acceptance of death when it arrives is one thing, but to allow it to upstage the joys of living is ingratitude.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-blythe/acceptance-of-death-when-it-arrives-is-one-thing-but-to-allow-it-to/) [Ronald Blythe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-blythe/) > [“Loving someone who does not love you back hurts, alot, i know. It is liking seeing these pair of shoes at the retail store…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nomthandazo-tsembeni/loving-someone-who-does-not-love-you-back-hurts-alot-i-know-it-is/) [Nomthandazo Tsembeni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nomthandazo-tsembeni/) > [Take responsibily for your past, the bad memories of poor decisions you took were your choices once, and you liked them for the moment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aruho-marvin/take-responsibily-for-your-past-the-bad-memories-of-poor-decisions/) [Aruho Marvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aruho-marvin/) > [Let us learn to accept and appreciate things now, and we'll find more happiness in every moment we live. Happiness comes when we stop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glen-rambharack/let-us-learn-to-accept-and-appreciate-things-now-and-we-ll-find-more/) [Glen Rambharack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glen-rambharack/) > [“Love first; ask questions later.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-courtney/love-first-ask-questions-later/) [Jeremy Courtney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-courtney/) > [“There was beauty in chaos, she'd just never known it before.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-linsmeier/there-was-beauty-in-chaos-she-d-just-never-known-it-before/) [Amanda Linsmeier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-linsmeier/) > [Accepting the challenges in life makes it interesting and overcoming them makes it eloquent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/accepting-the-challenges-in-life-makes-it-interesting-and-overcoming/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Acceptance is the only thing you should teach. Be it Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Dalit, you must inculcate acceptance, not tolerance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamal-haasan/acceptance-is-the-only-thing-you-should-teach-be-it-christian-muslim/) [Kamal Haasan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamal-haasan/) > [There just seems to be more acceptance now of other kinds of British films, than the picture-postcard ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-roth/there-just-seems-to-be-more-acceptance-now-of-other-kinds-of-british/) [Tim Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-roth/) > [You should never hate anyone, even your worst enemies. Everyone has something good about them. You have to find the redeeming quality and love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeannette-walls/you-should-never-hate-anyone-even-your-worst-enemies-everyone-has/) [Jeannette Walls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeannette-walls/) > [The sense that in this universe we are treated as strangers, the longing to be acknowledged, to meet with some response, to bridge some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-sense-that-in-this-universe-we-are-treated-as-strangers-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 3,960 Acceptance quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acceptance/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Familiarity with evil breeds not contempt but acceptance.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Roy Hattersley" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-hattersley/familiarity-with-evil-breeds-not-contempt-but-acceptance/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Acceptance" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-hattersley/familiarity-with-evil-breeds-not-contempt-but-acceptance/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa2/roy-hattersley-32441_acceptance_familiarity-with-evil-breeds-not-contemp_2748076.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa2/roy-hattersley-32441_acceptance_familiarity-with-evil-breeds-not-contemp_2748076.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa2/roy-hattersley-32441_acceptance_familiarity-with-evil-breeds-not-contemp_2748076.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Familiarity with evil breeds not contempt but acceptance.” — Roy Hattersley", "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": "Roy Hattersley", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-hattersley/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Familiarity with evil breeds not contempt...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-hattersley/familiarity-with-evil-breeds-not-contempt-but-acceptance/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-hattersley/familiarity-with-evil-breeds-not-contempt-but-acceptance/#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 } } ] } ```