A competent and self-confident person is incapable of jealousy in anything. Jealousy is invariably a symptom of neurotic insecurity.
—Robert A. Heinlein (1907–88) American Science Fiction Writer
Whoever envies another confesses his superiority.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
Jealousy contains more of self-love than of love.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613–80) French Writer
Jealous people poison their own banquet and then eat it.
—Indian Proverb
Envy is a littleness of soul, which cannot see beyond a certain point, and if it does not occupy the whole space feels itself excluded.
—William Hazlitt (1778–1830) English Essayist
To jealousy, nothing is more frightful than laughter.
—Francoise Sagan (1935–2004) French Novelist, Playwright, Short-Story Writer
Pity is for the living, envy is for the dead.
—Mark Twain (1835–1910) American Humorist
Jealousy is the most dreadfully involuntary of all sins.
—Iris Murdoch (1919–99) British Novelist, Playwright, Philosopher
Jealousy is no more than feeling alone against smiling enemies.
—Elizabeth Bowen (1899–1973) Irish Novelist, Short-story Writer
He that cherishes jealousy in his heart, his bones rot.
—The Talmud Sacred Text of the Jewish Faith
Jealousy is never satisfied with anything short of an omniscience that would detect the subtlest fold of the heart.
—George Eliot (Mary Anne Evans) (1819–80) English Novelist
Jealousy is a disease, love is a healthy condition. The immature mind often mistakes one for the other, or assumes that the greater the love, the greater the jealousy—in fact, they’re almost incompatible; one emotion hardly leaves room for the other. Both at once can produce unbearable turmoil…
—Robert A. Heinlein (1907–88) American Science Fiction Writer
As a moth gnaws a garment, so doth envy consume a man.
—John Chrysostom (c.347–407 CE) Archbishop of Constantinople
Trifles light as air
Are to the jealous confirmations strong
As proofs of holy writ.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
Always remember, Peggy, it’s matrimonial suicide to be jealous when you have a really good reason.
—Clare Boothe Luce (1903–87) American Playwright, Diplomat, Journalist
Yet is there one more cursed than they all, that canker-worm, that monster, jealousy, which eats the heart and feeds upon the gall, turning all love’s delight to misery, through fear of losing his felicity.
—Edmund Spenser (1552–99) English Poet
Jealousy is the fear or apprehension of superiority; envy our uneasiness under it.
—William Shenstone (1714–63) British Poet, Landscape Gardener
Jealousy feeds upon suspicion, and it turns into fury or it ends as soon as we pass from suspicion to certainty.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613–80) French Writer
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
Jealousy is nothing more than a fear of abandonment.
—Indian Proverb
Don’t hold grudges; it’s pointless. Jealousy too is a non-cathartic, negative emotion.
—Indian Proverb
Our envy always lasts longer than the happiness of those we envy.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613–80) French Writer
There is never jealousy where there is not strong regard.
—Washington Irving (1783–1859) American Essayist, Biographer, Historian
Love may exist without jealousy, although this is rare; but jealousy may exist without love, and this is common.
—Indian Proverb
Anger and jealousy can no more bear to lose sight of their objects than love.
—George Eliot (Mary Anne Evans) (1819–80) English Novelist
The jealous are possessed by a mad devil and a dull spirit at the same time.
—Johann Kaspar Lavater (1741–1801) Swiss Theologian, Poet
The disease of jealously is so malignant that is converts all it takes into its own nourishment.
—Joseph Addison (1672–1719) English Essayist, Poet, Playwright, Politician
Envy and fear are the only passions to which no pleasure is attached.
—John Churton Collins (1848–1908) British Literary Critic, Writer
We are more jealous of frivolous accomplishments with brilliant success, than of the most estimable qualities without. Johnson envied Garrick whom he despised, and ridiculed Goldsmith, whom he loved.
—William Hazlitt (1778–1830) English Essayist
The jealous bring down the curse they fear upon their own heads.
—Dorothy Dix (1861–1951) American Journalist, Columnist
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