can someone explain the phrase 'familiarity breeds contempt'?

Question

it seems strange as as the more you are familiar with someone, you grow to possibly appreciate them and thus not have contempt for them

Answer 1

My understanding is that the more you know something or someone the less likely you are to treat them respectfully all of the time, husbands and wives treat their spouses differently to anyone else as they know them so much better, they would not speak to anyone else the way they do to each other and the same with children in the family, we say and do terrible things to our nearest and dearest!

Answer 2

This phrase is usually applied not to relationships but the doing of tasks etc.such as people dealing with dagerous substances or electricity all the time.Because they are so familiar with the the things they are handling or doing they skip precautions and when it goes wrong people quote this phrase

Answer 3

Very few people are genuinely worthy of the kind of admiration that we have a tendancy to regard them.

Hollywood stars benefit from undeserved admiration because of roles they play that put their character in a good light.

Once you get to know the debauchery of the individual, your familiarity with who they actually are earns your contempt as you see them betraying their spouses, abusing drugs, lying, cheating, stealing . . . etc in their real lives.

Answer 4

When you're around someone a lot and don't have your own space, you tend to take those people for granted. Acting out hostile feelings becomes easier.

Answer 5

Grass is always greener on the other side of the fence.
Look close enough at anyone, and you will see their clay feet.

Answer 6

Once you really get to know someone, you know more about their "flaws" and 'faults," which you hate. Sad, but true . . . but not for me, in any case that I know of . . .

Answer 7

Too much of anything or anyone is more than enough. The guest who over-stays his welcome is a good example.