Base envy withers at another's joy,
And hates that excellence it cannot reach.

Base envy withers at another's joy,
And hates that excellence it cannot reach.

But, oh! what mighty magician can assuage
A woman's envy?

But, oh! what mighty magician can assuage
A woman's envy?

Envy consists in seeing things never in themselves, but only in their relations. If you desire glory, you may envy read more

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.

Envy will merit as its shade pursue,
But like a shadow, proves the substance true.

Envy will merit as its shade pursue,
But like a shadow, proves the substance true.

The envious pine at others' success; no greater punishment than
envy was devised by Sicilian tyrants.
[Lat., Invidus read more

The envious pine at others' success; no greater punishment than
envy was devised by Sicilian tyrants.
[Lat., Invidus alterius marescit rebus opimis;
Invidia Siculi non invenere tyranni
Majus tormentus.]

With that malignant envy which turns pale,
And sickens, even if a friend prevail.

With that malignant envy which turns pale,
And sickens, even if a friend prevail.

Envy is like a fly that passes all the body's sounder parts, and dwells upon the sores.

Envy is like a fly that passes all the body's sounder parts, and dwells upon the sores.

Fools may our scorn, not envy, raise.
For envy is a kind of praise.

Fools may our scorn, not envy, raise.
For envy is a kind of praise.

Envy, like fire, soars upward.
[Lat., Invidiam, tamquam ignem, summa petere.]

Envy, like fire, soars upward.
[Lat., Invidiam, tamquam ignem, summa petere.]