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.

We cannot feel strongly toward the totally unlike because it

Summary

This quote suggests that we cannot have strong emotions towards things that are completely different from us because they are beyond our comprehension. Similarly, we cannot feel strongly towards things that are identical to us because they would be monotonous. The true power of connecting with others lies in finding a stimulating difference that creates excitement and opens up channels of communication. It is in finding ideas that are similar to ours but not exact, and experiencing states of mind that are attainable but not yet realized, that we are able to truly connect and be influenced by others.

By Charles Horton Cooley

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