Two tin cans linked by a badly frayed string on a dark olive background.

Original artwork, not a still

Sententiae

Publilius Syrus

Familiarity breeds contempt.

Behind the line

What it means

Our interpretation.

The maxim holds that constant closeness can erode respect: the more thoroughly we know someone or something, the easier it becomes to look down on it. Admiration often depends on some distance, and daily exposure reveals flaws and makes the once-impressive seem ordinary.

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