Thus the advantage accruing to the tertius derives from the fact that he has an equal, equally independent, and for this very reason decisive, relation to two others. The advantage, however, does not exclusively depend on the hostility of the two. A certain general differentiation, mutual strangeness, or qualitative dualism may be sufficient. This, in fact, is the basic formula of the type, and the hostility of the elements is merely a specific case of it, even if it is the most common.

XREF: Connects to sociological network theory of brokerage, where tertius gaudens advantages arise from structural position rather than content of relations.

Georg Simmel, The Sociology of Georg Simm…, loc. 4524