--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Envy will merit as its shade pursue, But…" description: "\"Envy will merit as its shade pursue, But like a shadow, proves the substance true.\" — Alexander Pope" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0e5/alexander-pope-235_envy_envy-will-merit-as-its-shade-pursue-but_2262675.png" --- # Envy will merit as its shade pursue, But like a shadow… ![“Envy will merit as its shade pursue, But like a shadow, proves the substance true.” quote by Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0e5/alexander-pope-235_envy_envy-will-merit-as-its-shade-pursue-but_2262675.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0e5/alexander-pope-235_envy_envy-will-merit-as-its-shade-pursue-but_2262675.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0e5/alexander-pope-235_envy_envy-will-merit-as-its-shade-pursue-but_2262675.png) > “Envy will merit as its shade pursue, But like a shadow, proves the substance true.” [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Envy appears as a fleeting shadow, suggesting that the feeling itself reveals the truth of what we lack. **In simple terms:** Envy shows what we truly want. Key Takeaway Recognize envy as a clue to your desires. Themes envy selfawareness truth Mood introspective thoughtful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal growth - relationship dynamics - career ambition Key Concepts psychology perception reflection Questions to Reflect On - What does my envy reveal about my values? - How can I channel envy constructively? A Different Perspective Envy can distort judgment and cause resentment. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Envy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/envy/) [Shade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shade/) [Shadow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shadow/) ## Related quotes > [“Envy will merit, as its shade, pursue, But like a shadow, proves the substance true; For envied wit, like Sol eclips'd, makes known Th'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/envy-will-merit-as-its-shade-pursue-but-like-a-shadow-proves-the/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [Envy will merit, as its shade, pursue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/envy-will-merit-as-its-shade-pursue/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [The shadow proves the sunshine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-shadow-proves-the-sunshine/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [To the Elysian shades dismiss my soul, where no carnation fades.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/to-the-elysian-shades-dismiss-my-soul-where-no-carnation-fades/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [Interspersed in lawn and opening glades, Thin trees arise that shun each others' shades.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/interspersed-in-lawn-and-opening-glades-thin-trees-arise-that-shun/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [Where'er you walk cool gales shall fan the glade, Trees where you sit shall crowd into a shade. Where'er you tread the blushing flowers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/where-er-you-walk-cool-gales-shall-fan-the-glade-trees-where-you-sit/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [The good must merit God's peculiar care; But who but God can tell us who they are?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/the-good-must-merit-god-s-peculiar-care-but-who-but-god-can-tell-us/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [Fear not the anger of the wise to raise; Those best can bear reproof who merit praise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/fear-not-the-anger-of-the-wise-to-raise-those-best-can-bear-reproof/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [Let sinful bachelors their woes deplore; full well they merit all they feel, and more: unaw by precepts, human or divine, like birds and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/let-sinful-bachelors-their-woes-deplore-full-well-they-merit-all-they/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [Praise from a friend, or censure from a foe, Are lost on hearers that our merits know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/praise-from-a-friend-or-censure-from-a-foe-are-lost-on-hearers-that/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [Charms strike the sight, but merit wins the soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/charms-strike-the-sight-but-merit-wins-the-soul/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [Beauties in vain their pretty eyes may roll; charms strike the sight, but merit wins the soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/beauties-in-vain-their-pretty-eyes-may-roll-charms-strike-the-sight/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [Fake friends are like shadow...they follow u in the light n leaves ur side when it gets dark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/fake-friends-are-like-shadow-they-follow-u-in-the-light-n-leaves-ur/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I grieve and dare not show my discontent, I love and yet am forced to seem to hate, I do, yet dare not say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-i/i-grieve-and-dare-not-show-my-discontent-i-love-and-yet-am-forced-to/) [Elizabeth I](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-i/) > [“It's that old, old fear thing again. Why does it creep along with us, attached to us like our shadow? Why can't it just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-mark-harris/it-s-that-old-old-fear-thing-again-why-does-it-creep-along-with-us/) Joel Mark Harris ## More by Alexander Pope > [How do we know that we have a right to kill creatures that we are so little above, as dogs, for our curiosity or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/how-do-we-know-that-we-have-a-right-to-kill-creatures-that-we-are-so/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [To wake the soul by tender strokes of art, To raise the genius, and to mend the heart; To make mankind, in conscious virtue…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/to-wake-the-soul-by-tender-strokes-of-art-to-raise-the-genius-and-to/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [A mighty maze! But not without a plan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/a-mighty-maze-but-not-without-a-plan/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [Let such teach others who themselves excel, And censure freely who have written well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/let-such-teach-others-who-themselves-excel-and-censure-freely-who/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [For I, who hold sage Homer's rule the best, Welcome the coming, speed the going guest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/for-i-who-hold-sage-homer-s-rule-the-best-welcome-the-coming-speed/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [Like following life through creatures you dissect, You lose it in the moment you detect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/like-following-life-through-creatures-you-dissect-you-lose-it-in-the/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [When two people compliment each other with the choice of anything, each of them generally gets that which he likes least.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/when-two-people-compliment-each-other-with-the-choice-of-anything/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [Such labour'd nothings, in so strange a style, Amaze th' unlearn'd and make the learned smile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/such-labour-d-nothings-in-so-strange-a-style-amaze-th-unlearn-d-and/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [Charms strike the sight, but merit wins the soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/charms-strike-the-sight-but-merit-wins-the-soul/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [She went from opera, park, assembly, play, To morning walks, and prayers three hours a day. To part her time 'twixt reading and bohea,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/she-went-from-opera-park-assembly-play-to-morning-walks-and-prayers/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [I am satisfied to trifle away my time, rather than let it stick by me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/i-am-satisfied-to-trifle-away-my-time-rather-than-let-it-stick-by-me/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [The greatest advantage I know of being thought a wit by the world is, that it gives one the greater freedom of playing the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/the-greatest-advantage-i-know-of-being-thought-a-wit-by-the-world-is/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [Then say not Man's imperfect,Heav'n in fault; Say rather, Man's as perfect ashe ought:](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/then-say-not-man-s-imperfect-heav-n-in-fault-say-rather-man-s-as/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [First follow Nature, and your judgment frame By her just standard, which is still the same: Unerring nature, still divinely bright, One clear, unchanged,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/first-follow-nature-and-your-judgment-frame-by-her-just-standard/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [Who shall decide when doctors disagree, And soundest casuists doubt, like you and me?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/who-shall-decide-when-doctors-disagree-and-soundest-casuists-doubt/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) [Explore all 850 Alexander Pope quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) ## More Envy quotes > [The vision of the left, full of envy and resentment, takes its worst toll on those at the bottom - whether black or white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/the-vision-of-the-left-full-of-envy-and-resentment-takes-its-worst/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [“He often remembered his dad's admonition that envy was mental theft. If you coveted another man's possessions, Dad said, then you should be willing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontz/he-often-remembered-his-dad-s-admonition-that-envy-was-mental-theft/) [Dean Koontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-koontz/) > [“I don't envy "busy." Busy means having a schedule, not living life. What I really covet is leisure and peace of mind. Those who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-lynn-hope/i-don-t-envy-busy-busy-means-having-a-schedule-not-living-life-what-i/) [Donna Lynn Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-lynn-hope/) > [There is no sweeter sound than the crumbling of one's fellow man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/groucho-marx/there-is-no-sweeter-sound-than-the-crumbling-of-one-s-fellow-man/) [Groucho Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/groucho-marx/) > [Thinking, or more precisely identification with thinking, gives rise to and maintains the ego, which, in our Western society in particular, is out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/thinking-or-more-precisely-identification-with-thinking-gives-rise-to/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [“Is it not strange that the more someone has, the less he feels he has? Envy can never be sated.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-wheeler/is-it-not-strange-that-the-more-someone-has-the-less-he-feels-he-has/) [Jeff Wheeler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-wheeler/) > [I avoid envy at all costs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claudia-winkleman/i-avoid-envy-at-all-costs/) [Claudia Winkleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claudia-winkleman/) > [Sometimes I envy painters, it is wonderful to remain in front of a bouquet of flowers a whole morning, or even longer. A photographer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edouard-boubat/sometimes-i-envy-painters-it-is-wonderful-to-remain-in-front-of-a/) [Edouard Boubat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edouard-boubat/) > [avarice breeds envy, a worm that is always gnawing, letting the avaricious enjoy neither their own nor anyone else's good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-catherine-of-siena/avarice-breeds-envy-a-worm-that-is-always-gnawing-letting-the/) [St. Catherine of Siena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-catherine-of-siena/) > [“You don’t see someone flying and you begin to bite yourself for not being able to do that. You do what you can.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/you-don-t-see-someone-flying-and-you-begin-to-bite-yourself-for-not/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [Knowledge forbidden? Suspicious, reasonless. Why should their Lord Envy them that? Can it be sin to know, Can it be death? And do they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/knowledge-forbidden-suspicious-reasonless-why-should-their-lord-envy/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [“Who would have thought you had so many supporters?" she whispered. "Not mine, my love. Yours. I had not a one till you started…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michele-sinclair/who-would-have-thought-you-had-so-many-supporters-she-whispered-not/) [Michele Sinclair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michele-sinclair/) > [“Treachery is always a hairy caterpillar bred of a small butterfly called envy, no matter how lofty the principles involved.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fazil-iskander/treachery-is-always-a-hairy-caterpillar-bred-of-a-small-butterfly/) Fazil Iskander > [Yes, Clay Matthews has a long, golden, Fabio-esque flowing mane that most women would chick-slap someone for. And yes, the shiny, beautiful, dark locks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-foudy/yes-clay-matthews-has-a-long-golden-fabio-esque-flowing-mane-that/) [Julie Foudy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-foudy/) > [“I have known many true connoisseurs, with excellent tastes that range across the humanities and the culinary arts--and they never fail to have a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zadie-smith/i-have-known-many-true-connoisseurs-with-excellent-tastes-that-range/) [Zadie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zadie-smith/) [Browse all 2,111 Envy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/envy/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Envy will merit as its shade pursue, But like a shadow, proves the substance true.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Alexander Pope" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/envy-will-merit-as-its-shade-pursue-but-like-a-shadow-proves-the-2/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Envy" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/envy-will-merit-as-its-shade-pursue-but-like-a-shadow-proves-the-2/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0e5/alexander-pope-235_envy_envy-will-merit-as-its-shade-pursue-but_2262675.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0e5/alexander-pope-235_envy_envy-will-merit-as-its-shade-pursue-but_2262675.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0e5/alexander-pope-235_envy_envy-will-merit-as-its-shade-pursue-but_2262675.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Envy will merit as its shade pursue, But like a shadow, proves the substance true.” — Alexander Pope", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Alexander Pope", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Envy will merit as its shade...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/envy-will-merit-as-its-shade-pursue-but-like-a-shadow-proves-the-2/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/envy-will-merit-as-its-shade-pursue-but-like-a-shadow-proves-the-2/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```