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.

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.

Helpless, unknown, and unremembered, most human beings, however sensitive, idealistic, intelligent, go through life as passengers rather than chauffeurs. Although read more

Helpless, unknown, and unremembered, most human beings, however sensitive, idealistic, intelligent, go through life as passengers rather than chauffeurs. Although we may pretend that it is the chauffeur who is the social inferior, most of us, like Toad of Toad Hall, would not mind a turn at the wheel ourselves.

Whenever a friend succeeds, a little something in me dies.

Whenever a friend succeeds, a little something in me dies.

As iron is eaten away by rust, so the envious are consumed by their own passion.

As iron is eaten away by rust, so the envious are consumed by their own passion.

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.

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?]

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.

If we did but know how little some enjoy of the great things that they possess, there would not be read more

If we did but know how little some enjoy of the great things that they possess, there would not be much envy in the world.