Some folks rail against other folks, because other folks have what some folks would be glad of.
—Henry Fielding (1707–54) English Novelist, Dramatist
Envy comes from people’s ignorance of, or lack of belief in, their own gifts.
—Jean Vanier (1928–2019) French-Canadian Philosopher, Theologian, Humanitarian
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
If our credit be so well built, so firm that it is not easy to be shaken by calumny or insinuation, envy then commends us, and extols us beyond reason to those upon whom we depend, till they grow jealous, and so blow us up when they cannot throw us down.
—Edward Hyde, 1st Earl of Clarendon (1609–74) English Statesman, Historian
Men of noble birth are noted to be envious toward new men when they rise; for the distance is altered; it is like a deceit of the eye, that when others come on they think themselves go back.
—Francis Bacon (1561–1626) English Philosopher
Envy feeds on the living. It ceases when they are dead.
—Ovid (Publius Ovidius Naso) (c.43 BCE–c.18 CE) Roman 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
It is not greed that drives the world, but envy.
—Warren Buffett (b.1930) American Investor
Cast out envy; you can have all that you want, and you need not envy any man what he has. Above all things, see to it that you do not hold malice or enmity toward any one; to do so cuts you off from the mind whose treasures you seek to make your own. Lay aside all narrow personal ambition and determine to seek the highest good.
—Wallace Wattles (1860–1911) American New Thought Author
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
Rust consumes iron and envy consumes itself.
—Danish Proverb
Pity is for the living, envy is for the dead.
—Mark Twain (1835–1910) American Humorist
His scorn of the great is repeated too often to be real; no man thinks much of that which he despises.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
If envy were a fever, all the world would be ill.
—Danish Proverb
He who goes unenvied shall not be admired.
—Aeschylus (525–456 BCE) Greek Playwright
The jealous are troublesome to others, but a torment to themselves.
—William Penn (1644–1718) American Entrepreneur, Political leader, Philosopher
I envy people who drink – at least they know what to blame everything on.
—Oscar Levant (1906–72) American Musician, Composer, Author, Comedian, Actor
Many men profess to hate another, but no man owns envy, as being an enmity or displeasure for no cause but another’s goodness or felicity.
—Jeremy Taylor
Envy feeds on the living, after death it rests, then the honor of a man protects him.
—Ovid (Publius Ovidius Naso) (c.43 BCE–c.18 CE) Roman Poet
Few men have the natural strength to honor a friend’s success without envy.
—Aeschylus (525–456 BCE) Greek Playwright
There is nothing more counterproductive than envy. Someone in the world will always be better than you. Of all the sins, envy is easily the worst, because you can’t even have any fun with it. It’s a total net loss.
—Charlie Munger (b.1924) American Investor, Philanthropist
Fools may our scorn, not envy raise, for envy is a kind of praise.
—John Gay (1685–1732) English Poet, Dramatist
Envy shoots at others and wounds itself.
—English Proverb
Hard to put things right. You don’t often get that chance. Sometimes all you can do is not get caught.
—Donna Tartt (b.1963) American Novelist
Man will do many things to get himself loved; he will do all things to get himself envied.
—Mark Twain (1835–1910) American Humorist
No man likes to be surpassed by those of this own level.
—Livy (Titus Livius) (59 BCE–17 CE) Roman Historian
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
Envy and fear are the only passions to which no pleasure is attached.
—John Churton Collins (1848–1908) English Literary Critic
When men are full of envy, they disparage everything, whether it be good or bad.
—Tacitus (56–117) Roman Orator, Historian
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