If we divine a discrepancy between a man's words and his character, the whole impression of him becomes broken and painful; he revolts the imagination by his lack of unity, and even the good in him is hardly accepted.

The quote by Charles Horton Cooley reflects on the impact of inconsistency between a person's words and their character. When a man’s actions or words fail to align with his true nature, it creates a sense of discrepancy. This mismatch leaves a fractured impression on others, breaking their perception of the individual. Cooley suggests that this lack of unity in a person’s identity makes it difficult for others to trust or understand them fully.

Cooley’s observation points to the deep psychological effect that such incongruence has on the imagination. When someone exhibits this disunity, it revolts the imagination of those around them. People are instinctively drawn to cohesive and consistent personalities, and any deviation from that leads to a sense of discomfort or distrust. Even if the person possesses good qualities, they may be overlooked or doubted because of this inner conflict.

The origin of this quote stems from Cooley's work in social psychology. He studied how society influences the development of an individual's self-image. Cooley’s work emphasized that people’s perceptions of others are shaped by how consistent they are in both word and deed. This quote serves as a reminder of how vital it is for individuals to maintain harmony between their external behavior and internal self, as authenticity is key to building trust and connection in society.