Envy is an unpleasant feeling that arises when we notice that another person has an undeservedly good quality, good, or treatment that we would want for ourselves. It is a fully human sensation and, however, it generates discomfort and distrust towards others.
To understand what envy is, just look around us That person who has managed to develop personally or professionally is viewed with distrust and suspicion by other individuals. Envious people cannot bear to think that there are other people who have been luckier or have achieved higher levels of success than them.
Through this selection of envy phrases we can recognize this behavior and counteract it. They are famous quotes that tell us about this negative feeling. It is up to us to prevent it from taking root in our way of seeing things.
1. Our envy always lasts longer than the happiness of those we envy. (François de La Rochefoucauld)
We tend to conceive the success of others as much more relevant than it really is.
2. He who is not envied is not worthy of being so. (Aeschylus of Eleusis)
A tautology that allows us to reflect.
3. Oh envy, root of infinite evils and worm of virtues! (Miguel de Cervantes)
About the negativity that envy generates.
4. Mindfulness turns off envy and jealousy, since by focusing on the here and now anxiety about ‘should be’ disappears. (Jonathan GarcÃa-Allen)
The ability of Mindfulness to restore our emotional intelligence is proven by different studies.
5. Do not envy your neighbor’s wealth. (Homer)
Money comes and goes, no human being should be envied because of their economic capacity.
6. In other people’s fields, the harvest is always more abundant. (Ovid)
We usually long for other people’s riches, but when we see them in person they do not seem to be a really justified reason for envy.
7. The envious can die, but envy never. (Moliere)
Famous quote by Jean-Baptiste Poquelin.
8. The theme of envy is very Spanish. Spanish people are always thinking about envy. To say that something is good they say: “It is enviable.” (Jorge Luis Borges)
A way of being that is very consolidated in Spanish culture.
9. All the tyrants of Sicily have never invented a greater torment than envy. (Horace)
The Latin poet was clear that envy is one of the greatest evils that a person can feel.
20. Do not overvalue what you receive, nor envy others. He who envies others will not get peace of mind. (Buddha)
Here are other famous quotes from Buddha.
21. There is but one step from envy to hatred. (Johann Wolfgang von Goethe)
That is why it is important not to get stuck in the antechamber of resentment.
22. When you point with one finger, remember that the other three fingers are pointing at you. (English proverb)
An Anglo-Saxon saying that reveals a great truth to us.
23. If you envy me it’s because you don’t know what I had to suffer to become who I am. (Anonymous)
Success doesn’t happen overnight, so envy is rarely justified.
24. Take care of what you can improve in yourself and don’t worry about what others do or seem to be. (Enrique Barrios)
Another phrase of envy that emphasizes stopping focusing on others.
25. Envy is a declaration of inferiority. (Napoleon I)
When you envy someone you assume your failure as a human being.
26. The silence of the envious is full of noises. (Khalil Gibra)
A stormy mind generates negative sensations like this.
27. If envy is a disease, then get well. (Anonymous)
To dedicate to someone who believes you don’t deserve what you have.
28. If there were only one immortal man he would be killed by the envious. (Chumy Chumez)
A global pandemic, according to the Spanish comedian and film director.
29. Envy, neither have it nor fear it. (Anonymous)
A saying that perfectly defines what our attitude should be when faced with this feeling.
30. Envy, the meanest of vices, crawls along the ground like a snake. (Ovid)
Another phrase from the Latin writer to define this vulgar feeling.
31. Envy is like debt: the first time it appears justifies its occurrence more times. (Adrián Triglia)
A parallelism that this Barcelona psychologist and writer explains to us.
32. Do not be a slave to envy, understand that life is unfair and fight for your desires. (Bond)
The U2 singer leaves us this positive message.
33. They talk, then we ride.
A phrase belonging to popular wisdom and that refers to the criticism of the envious.
34. What is a hater? An ungrateful man who hates the light that illuminates and warms him. (Victor Hugo)
A very accurate reflection about envy.
35. Envy in men shows how unhappy they feel, and their constant attention to what others do or do not do shows how bored they are. (Arthur Schopenhauer)
One of the most remembered phrases of this famous German thinker about envy.
36. The grass is always greener on the other side.
A popular saying widely used in the Anglo-Saxon world.
37. Punish those who are envious by doing good to them. (Arabic proverb)
A proverb that we can use as life advice.
38. He who is happy, it shows: he does not envy, he does not criticize and he does not judge.
A recipe that will inevitably lead us to happiness.
39. The most insecure will try to discourage others to feel better about themselves.
Envy is often related to insecurity.
40. Slander is the daughter of ignorance and the twin sister of envy. (Francisco Romero Robledo)
A very negative triad that usually generates toxic attitudes.
41. Those who hate only hate the people they envy and what they cannot have.
In envy we often find an important component of frustration and insecurity.
42. It’s a shame that only by stepping on others you feel strong enough.
A very accurate summary of how some envious people behave.
43. Envy feeds only on your own heart.
Envy is a feeling that can be truly destructive.
44. Evil walks hand in hand with the envy that generates it.
Two elements that are often highly related.
45. If you want to anger your enemy, forgive him. (Oscar Wilde)
Oscar Wilde was during his time one of the most brilliant men in his country.
46. ​​You have to wish luck to whoever does you wrong, because they are going to need it.
A good way to deal with the envy of others.
47. Don’t damage what you have by wanting what you don’t have. (Ann Brashares)
A phrase that we must always keep in mind to be happy.
48. Healthy envy does not exist, unless you are referring to admiration.
A reflection that will make us think deeply about the concept of healthy envy.
49. Envy blinds men and makes it impossible for them to think clearly.
There are few things in life to be envious of someone.
50. Envious people think they have the right to give their opinion about you, but when you comment something about them… Troy burns!
More than one will be reflected in this sentence.
51. There is nothing more dangerous than being happy in front of someone who is envious.
A true and humorous phrase in equal parts.
52. If you stand out, you will generate envy. Only those who do not stand out are those who do not generate envy.
We must try to stand out in life and not be one of those who envy excellence.
53. Just as rust eats iron, the envious are consumed by envy.
Envy is a feeling that generates nothing but discomfort in everyone, even in those who feel it.
54. Winners focus on winning and losers focus on winners.
Our mission should focus on being among the first.
55. Love looks through a telescope… Envy through a microscope.
Envy is almost always incompatible with love and they operate in different ways.
56. Falsehood is as old as the tree of Eden… Beware of it.
A concept that we can follow throughout our lives.
57. Hate me, judge me, criticize me… in the end, it all means the same: you will never be like me.
A good way to deal with the envy of others.
58. Envy is like drinking poison and waiting for the other person to die.
A truly accurate phrase, uttered by Carrie Fisher, one of the most charismatic actresses in Hollywood.
59. To feel envy is to insult oneself.
A reflection that we can take into account about the phenomenon of envy.
60. Sorority: we were taught to be rivals, but we decided to be allies.
Feminism is based on leaving behind envy between women and collaborating with each other.
61. Feminism is not an abstract idea, it is the need to go forward and not backward; get away from ignorance and envy. (Helen Mirren)
A very accurate way to summarize it.
62. The happiness of one is the envy of thousands who did not achieve it.
Some people dedicate themselves to trying to be better, others, unfortunately, to envy other people’s success.
63. Envy is caused by seeing another enjoy what we want; jealousy, to see another possess what we would like to possess. (Diogenes Laertius)
A very accurate differentiation about envy and jealousy.
64. After those who occupy the first positions, I do not know anyone as unfortunate as someone who envies them. (Marquise de Maintenon)
The only thing we can get out of envy is discomfort, misfortune and suffering.
65. Envy is a thousand times more terrible than hunger, because it is spiritual hunger. (Miguel de Unamuno)
A truly profound sentence, awarded to this great Spanish writer of the 19th century.
66. Envy is the adversary of the luckiest.
A phrase uttered almost 2000 years ago by Epictetus, which is still fully valid.
67. As large as the mob of admirers is the mob of the envious. (Seneca)
Both envy and excessive admiration can be harmful.
68. Envy is the gnawing worm of merit and glory. (Francis Bacon)
A very particular way of seeing it.
69. As soon as virtue is born, envy is born against it, and the body will lose its shadow sooner than virtue its envy. (Leonardo da Vinci)
This multidisciplinary Renaissance artist was also the author of many iconic sayings.
70. Envied virtue is twice a virtue. (Francisco de Quevedo)
The poet Francisco de Quevedo knew how to define the society of his time like no one else.
71. Proportionally to the number of admirers, the number of envious people grows. (Seneca)
A phrase that is still valid in our society.
72. They wanted us to be envious and they wanted us to be ignorant… but now that we are together we are unstoppable.
A proclamation highly vindicated by the feminist movement.
73. It would be wonderful to enjoy success without seeing envy in the eyes of those around you.
Marilyn Monroe left us truly iconic phrases.
74. The spirit of envy can destroy; never build.
Nothing good can come from a feeling as harmful as envy.
75. Do not hate those who are envious of you; Respect their jealousy… because they are the ones who think you are better.
An image about envy that can help us in times of difficulty.
76. If envy kills… may it rest in peace.
A truly humorous phrase about envy.
77. The strength of your envy is the speed of my progress.
A phrase that we can dedicate to anyone who envies us.
78. Let the years, not envy, fill your cheeks with wrinkles.
A very beautiful phrase about the maturity that the years give us.
79. First they observe, then they hate you and finally they copy you.
A phrase that perfectly summarizes a social functioning based on envy.
80. If you don’t like me and you’re still watching my every move… I’m sorry, but you’re a fan.
A very ironic statement with which we can define the envious.
81. Remember that if someone talks behind your back it is because you are ahead.
A phrase that we can share with our loved ones in order to help them in their lives.
82. Crowds bark at eminent men, just as small dogs bark at strangers.
A very accurate allegory that tells us about envy and how to combat it.
83. Be proud of the envy you generate.
A tip that can help us in certain situations.
84. Envy is not worth it; It’s the only sin you can’t have fun with.
A surprising way to conceive the concept of envy.
85. The few who believe are the envy of the many who dedicate themselves exclusively to watching.
This is how the world works in many places.
86. Never take off your crown to make others feel comfortable.
A phrase that encourages us to move forward with our lives without thinking about others.
87. It would be wonderful to be able to succeed without generating envy, but it is not possible. Get used to it.
A phrase that defines today’s society in many ways.
88. Envy is a shadow that disfigures the face and saddens the spirit.
A very concise and accurate phrase about envy.
89. Don’t compare yourself to others. Compare yourself with the person you were yesterday.
Only in this way will we be able to improve and be happy.
90. Never speak out loud about your happiness, because envy is a very light sleeper.
