Envy Quotes: Uplifting Sayings to Overcome Jealousy

Envy is a complex emotion that can often cause discomfort and unhappiness. It’s natural to feel a twinge of envy when you see others experiencing love, success, or a happy life that you desire. However, it’s essential to recognize your own worth and the unique experiences that make your life rich and fulfilling.

Quotes can be a powerful tool to help you overcome feelings of envy and achieve a more content state of mind. By reflecting on the wisdom shared in various envy quotes, you can gain a new perspective on your own feelings and desires, ultimately leading to greater peace of mind and happiness within yourself and your relationships with family and friends.

To inspire you on your journey towards self-discovery and inner joy, we’ve gathered some thought-provoking envy quotes that shed light on the truth behind this emotion. By embracing their messages, you’ll be better equipped to live a happier, more content life, free from the grip of envy.

Quote List 1 – 25

1. Envy is the art of counting the other fellow’s blessings instead of your own – Harold Coffin. This quote reminds you to focus on your own achievements and not compare yourself to others.

2. Do not overrate what you have received, nor envy others. He who envies others does not obtain peace of mind – Buddha. A friendly reminder that peace of mind comes from within, not from comparing yourself to others.

3. Shift the point of view a little bit and see how much nobler the hatred of envy is than the hatred of snobbery – Charley Reese. Reese suggests that envy can be a more honorable emotion than snobbery.

4. Envy is ignorance; imitation is suicide – Ralph Waldo Emerson. Emerson warns you that envy blinds us to our own worth, and imitation only kills our individuality.

5. Our envy always lasts longer than the happiness of those we envy – François de La Rochefoucauld. Rochefoucauld points out that envy is a self-inflicted pain that persists even when the object of envy is no longer happy.

6. Envy is pain at the good fortune of others – Aristotle. The philosopher Aristotle implies that envy is a negative emotion that harms our well-being.

7. Envy ain’t nothin’ more than a fear of bein’ average – Josh Billings. Billings humorously suggests that envy is rooted in our insecurities about our own mediocrity.

8. The feeling of envy is when you’d be happy for the other person, except for that gnawing concern about what their success or happiness means about your own life – Gretchen Rubin. Rubin highlights how envy can arise from a sense of inadequacy.

Take a moment to reflect on these quotes and remember that the key to overcoming envy is understanding your own self-worth and focusing on your journey.

Quote List 26 – 50

In this section, you’ll find a variety of envy quotes that touch on the emotions of self-comparison, overrating oneself, pride, loneliness, hatred, and more, while also highlighting famous personalities like William Arthur Ward, Victor Hugo, and Margaret Thatcher. Let’s dive into these thought-provoking quotes:

26. It is in the character of very few men to honor without envy a friend who has prospered. – Aeschylus
27. Blessed is he who has learned to admire but not envy, to follow but not imitate, to praise but not flatter, and to lead but not manipulate. – William Arthur Ward
28. It’s amazing how much you can envy someone even when you’re absolutely sure you don’t want what they have. – Lionel Shriver
29. The jealous are troublesome to others, but a torment to themselves. – William Penn
30. We always overrate the happiness of those we envy. – François de La Rochefoucauld

As you continue reading, notice that many of these quotes emphasize avoiding comparison and focusing on the unique aspects of your own life.

31. To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment. – Ralph Waldo Emerson
32. Do not overrate what you have received, nor envy others. He who envies others does not achieve peace. – Buddha
33. Envy is the art of counting the other fellow’s blessings instead of your own. – Harold Coffin
34. Pride is spiritual cancer: it eats up the very possibility of love, or contentment, or even common sense. – C.S. Lewis
35. A competent and self-confident person is incapable of jealousy in anything. Jealousy is invariably a symptom of neurotic insecurity. – Robert A. Heinlein

While some envy quotes convey a sense of timelessness, others may resonate more deeply with you because they are from well-known figures like Victor Hugo or Margaret Thatcher.

36. You desire to know the art of living, my friend? It is contained in one phrase: make use of suffering. – Victor Hugo
37. The spirit of envy can destroy; it can never build. – Margaret Thatcher
38. Hatred is something peculiar. You will always find it strongest and most violent where there is the lowest degree of culture. – Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
39. It is not love that is blind, but jealousy. – Lawrence Durrell
40. There is a sort of jealousy which needs very little fire: it is hardly a passion, but a blight bred in the cloudy, damp despondency of uneasy egoism. – George Eliot

Lastly, take a moment to reflect on how these envy quotes can inspire you to let go of jealousy and embrace a more compassionate approach to yourself and others.

41. Envy is the ulcer of the soul. – Socrates
42. Nothing sharpens sight like envy. – Thomas Fuller
43. The best way to avoid envy is to deserve the success you get. – Audrey Hepburn
44. Jealousy—Tormenting yourself, for fear you should be tormented by another. – Paul Chatfield
45. The truest mark of being born with great qualities is being born without envy. – François de La Rochefoucauld

We hope these envy quotes provide you with insight, inspiration, and a chance for reflection on the emotions that surround envy and self-comparison.

Quote List 51 – 75

Here is a collection of envy quotes, that we hope you find inspiring or thought-provoking. Remember, using these quotes effectively can help you understand and overcome negative emotions that may be holding you back.

51. “The spirit of envy can destroy; it can never build.” – Margaret Thatcher

52. “People only see the envies and resentment in the eyes of others when they receive something they don’t have.” – Unknown

53. “Honor should be given to those who possess it, not to those who crave it.” – Unknown

54. “Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, it’s inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery.” Winston Churchill

55. “Do not let maliceconsume you; it only leads to more negativity.” – Unknown

56. “Comparison is the thief of joy.” – Theodore Roosevelt

57. “Travel far and wide to understand different perspectives, but always remember to carry a light heart.” – Unknown

58. “It’s better to focus on your own journey rather than be consumed by negative emotions.” – Unknown

59. “Don’t let guilt and envy dominate your thoughts; always look for inspiration and guidance from within.” – Unknown

Through these quotes, we hope that you gain insight into dealing with envy and understanding its destructive capacities. Use this advice to move forward with a positive mindset and make valuable experiences throughout your life.

Quote List 76 – 100

In this section, you’ll find a list of envy quotes that will inspire you to appreciate your own accomplishments and the success of others. We’ve made sure to feature quotes that cover various relevant topics such as lead, vice, ignorance, power, applause, and more.

1. It is not enough to succeed. Others must fail. – This quote showcases the base nature of envy as a vice and how it can lead people down a negative path.
2. Envy is the thinnest smoke of human thought; it will never rise above the head which sends it forth. – Here, envy is depicted as a spirit that can only weigh down the person who harbors it.
3. Applaud the person who succeeds through their own efforts, and admire the character that upholds their achievements. – A reminder to celebrate the success of others and appreciate their hard work.
4. Everyone rises in the same boat of power; envy only serves to hinder your ability to navigate the waters of life. – This quote highlights how envy can eventually become a boomerang that returns to hurt the envious person.
5. Beg not for the shape another possesses, for each holds a unique beauty within. – A reminder that everyone is unique and it’s important to appreciate your own qualities.

Always remember that envy often stems from ignorance, and focusing on the strengths and accomplishments of others instead of dwelling on comparisons can help alleviate feelings of envy. As you continue exploring these quotes, take a moment to reflect on how you can learn from and even admire those who have achieved the things you aspire to, rather than allowing envy to manipulate your emotions. Embrace the good in life and realize that there’s plenty of success and happiness to go around.