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.

The general's disdained
By him one step below, he by the next,
The next by him beneath; read more

The general's disdained
By him one step below, he by the next,
The next by him beneath; so every step,
Exampled by the first pace that is sick
Of his superior, grows to an envious fever
Of pale and bloodless emulation:
And 'tis this fever that keeps Troy on foot,
Not her own sinews.

Envy shoots at others and wounds itself

Envy shoots at others and wounds itself

They that envy others are their inferiors.

They that envy others are their inferiors.

Some folks rail against other folks, because other folks have what some folks would be glad of.

Some folks rail against other folks, because other folks have what some folks would be glad of.

If I smile at the strong perfumes of the silly Rufillus must I be
regarded as envious and ill-natured?
read more

If I smile at the strong perfumes of the silly Rufillus must I be
regarded as envious and ill-natured?
[Lat., Ego si risi quod ineptus
Pastillos Rufillus olet, Gargonius hircum, lividus et mordax
videar?]

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.

You have enemies? Good. That means you've stood up for something, sometime in your life.

You have enemies? Good. That means you've stood up for something, sometime in your life.

Envy not greatness: for thou mak'st thereby
Thyself the worse, and so the distance greater.

Envy not greatness: for thou mak'st thereby
Thyself the worse, and so the distance greater.