Potter is jealous of potter, and craftsman of craftsman; and the poor have a grudge against the poor, and the poet against the poet.
—Hesiod (f.700 BCE) Greek Poet
All other passions condescend at times to accept the inexorable logic of facts; but jealousy looks facts straight in the face, and ignores them utterly, and says she knows a great deal better than they can tell her.
—Arthur Helps (1813–75) English Dramatist, Essayist
The fault-finder — it is his nature’s plague to spy into abuses; and oft his jealousy shapes faults that are not.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
He who is next heir to supreme power, is always suspected and hated by him who actually wields it.
—Tacitus (56–117) Roman Orator, Historian
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 an inner consciousness of one’s own inferiority. it is a mental cancer.
—B. C. Forbes (1880–1954) Scottish-born American Journalist, Publisher
Jealousy is all the fun you think they had.
—Erica Jong (b.1942) American Novelist, Feminist
There is no greater glory than love, nor any greater punishment than jealousy.
—Lope de Vega (1562–1635) Spanish Playwright, Poet
To cure jealousy is to see it for what it is, a dissatisfaction with self.
—Joan Didion (b.1934) American Essayist, Novelist, Memoirist
Envy comes from people’s ignorance of, or lack of belief in, their own gifts.
—Jean Vanier (1928–2019) French-Canadian Philosopher, Theologian, Humanitarian
You cannot hope to build a better world without improving the individuals. To that end, each of us must work for our own improvement and, at the same time, share a general responsibility for all humanity, our particular duty being to aid those to whom we think we can be most useful.
—Marie Curie (1867–1934) Polish-born French Physicist, Chemist
What frenzy dictates, jealousy believes.
—John Gay (1685–1732) English Poet, Dramatist
Jealousy is not at all low, but it catches us humbled and bowed down, at first sight.
—Colette (1873–1954) French Novelist, Performer
Jealousy is the most dreadfully involuntary of all sins.
—Iris Murdoch (1919–99) British Novelist, Playwright, Philosopher
Anger and jealousy can no more bear to lose sight of their objects than love.
—George Eliot (Mary Anne Evans) (1819–80) English Novelist
Jealousy in romance is like salt in food. A little can enhance the savor, but too much can spoil the pleasure and, under certain circumstances, can be life-threatening.
—Maya Angelou (1928–2014) American Poet
Calamities are of two kinds: misfortune to ourselves, and good fortune to others.
—Ambrose Bierce (1842–1913) American Short-story Writer, Journalist
Jealousy is the jaundice of the soul.
—John Dryden (1631–1700) English Poet, Literary Critic, Playwright
As a moth gnaws a garment, so doth envy consume a man.
—John Chrysostom (c.347–407 CE) Archbishop of Constantinople
Envy and fear are the only passions to which no pleasure is attached.
—John Churton Collins (1848–1908) English Literary Critic
Envy is a kind of praise.
—John Gay (1685–1732) English Poet, Dramatist
My wife’s jealousy is getting ridiculous. The other day she looked at my calendar and wanted to know who May was.
—Rodney Dangerfield (1921–2004) American Comedian, TV Personality, Actor
He that cherishes jealousy in his heart, his bones rot.
—The Talmud Sacred Text of the Jewish Faith
One seldom meets a man who likes his fellow artist.
—The Talmud Sacred Text of the Jewish Faith
Jealousy… is a mental cancer.
—B. C. Forbes (1880–1954) Scottish-born American Journalist, Publisher
Jealousy is the sister of love, as the devil is the brother of angels.
—Stanislas de Boufflers (1738–1815) French Political leader, Writer
It is not love that is blind, but jealousy.
—Lawrence Durrell (1912–90) British Biographer, Poet, Playwright, Novelist
The jealous bring down the curse they fear upon their own heads.
—Dorothy Dix (1861–1951) American Journalist, Columnist