There is no greater glory than love, nor any greater punishment than jealousy.
—Lope de Vega (1562–1635) Spanish Playwright, Poet
If envy were a fever, all the world would be ill.
—Danish Proverb
Envy consists in seeing things never in themselves, but only in their relations. If you desire glory, you may envy Napoleon, but Napoleon envied Caesar, Caesar envied Alexander, and Alexander, I daresay, envied Hercules, who never existed.
—Bertrand A. Russell (1872–1970) British Philosopher, Mathematician, Social Critic
We are often vain of even the most criminal of our passions; but envy is so shameful a passion that we never dare to acknowledge it.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613–80) French Writer
He who goes unenvied shall not be admired.
—Aeschylus (525–456 BCE) Greek Playwright
In jealousy there is more of self-love, than of, love to another.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613–80) French Writer
There is no sweeter sound than the crumbling of ones fellow man.
—Groucho Marx (1890–1977) American Actor, Comedian, Singer
Probably the greatest harm done by vast wealth is the harm that we of moderate means do ourselves when we let the vices of envy and hatred enter deep into our own natures.
—Theodore Roosevelt (1858–1919) American Head of State, Political leader, Historian, Explorer
Envy is like a fly that passes all a body’s sounder parts, and dwells upon the sores.
—George Chapman (c.1560–1634) English Poet, Playwright
When we envy another, we make their virtue our vice.
—Nicolas Boileau-Despreaux (1636–1711) French Poet, Satirist, Literary Critic
Envy, like flame, blackens that which is above it, and which it cannot reach.
—Jean Antoine Petit-Senn (1792–1870) French-Swiss Lyric Poet
Rust consumes iron and envy consumes itself.
—Danish Proverb
Envy always implies conscious inferiority wherever it resides.
—Pliny the Elder (23–79CE) Roman Statesman, Scholar
All the world is competent to judge my pictures except those who are of my profession.
—William Hogarth (1697–1764) English Painter, Engraver
Jealousy is an inner consciousness of one’s own inferiority. it is a mental cancer.
—B. C. Forbes (1880–1954) Scottish-born American Journalist, Publisher
Envy is ever joined with the comparing of a man’s self; and where there is no comparison, no envy.
—Francis Bacon (1561–1626) English Philosopher
Envy wounds with false accusations, that is with detraction, a thing which scares virtue.
—Leonardo da Vinci (1452–1519) Italian Polymath, Painter, Sculptor, Inventor, Architect
The envious die not once, but as oft as the envied win applause.
—Baltasar Gracian (1601–58) Spanish Scholar, Prose Writer
Envy will merit as its shade pursue, But like a shadow, proves the substance true.
—Alexander Pope (1688–1744) English Poet
Envy depreciates the genius of the great Homer.
—Ovid (Publius Ovidius Naso) (c.43 BCE–c.18 CE) Roman Poet
One reason why so many people are unhappy, not knowing why, is that they have burdened their minds with resentments. These evil thoughts pile right on top of happier and generous ones and smother them so that they never get expression. Resentments are a form of hate…. What a dearth of good will and co-operation there are among human beings and nations! What a world this would be if we all worked together, and as a popular diplomat recently expressed it-played together.
—George Matthew Adams (1878–1962) American Columnist, Journalist
There is no one envious enough to harm another that is not first a torment to himself.
—Augustine of Hippo (354–430) Roman-African Christian Philosopher
How much better a thing it is to be envied than to be pitied.
—Herodotus (c.485–425 BCE) Ancient Greek Historian
The envious person grows lean with the fatness of their neighbor.
—Socrates (469BCE–399BCE) Ancient Greek Philosopher
They that envy others are their inferiors.
—Common Proverb
Envy is a kind of praise.
—John Gay (1685–1732) English Poet, Dramatist
Hatred is active, and envy passive dislike; there is but one step from envy to hate.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German Poet
Pride is seldom delicate, it will please itself with very mean advantages; and envy feels not its own happiness, but when it may be compared with the misery of others
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
Envy is the most stupid of vices, for there is no single advantage to be gained from it.
—Honore de Balzac (1799–1850) French Novelist
When men are full of envy, they disparage everything, whether it be good or bad.
—Tacitus (56–117) Roman Orator, Historian
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