--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Envy will merit, as its shade, pursue…" description: "\"“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' opposing body'..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1be/alexander-pope-235_envy_envy-will-merit-as-its-shade-pursue-but_333018.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; For envied wit, like Sol eclips'd, makes known Th' opposing body's grossness, not its own.” quote by Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1be/alexander-pope-235_envy_envy-will-merit-as-its-shade-pursue-but_333018.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1be/alexander-pope-235_envy_envy-will-merit-as-its-shade-pursue-but_333018.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1be/alexander-pope-235_envy_envy-will-merit-as-its-shade-pursue-but_333018.png) > ““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' opposing body's grossness, not its own.”” [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 reveals truth by highlighting the qualities of the envied, exposing the envier’s own shortcomings. **In simple terms:** Envy shows what we lack and reveals our own flaws. Key Takeaway Recognize envy as a mirror for self‑improvement. Themes psychology morality human nature Mood thoughtful introspective Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - personal growth - relationship dynamics - creative writing Key Concepts envy self‑reflection comparative judgment Questions to Reflect On - What does your envy reveal about your desires? - How can you transform envy into motivation? A Different Perspective Envy can also breed resentment and negativity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Envied Wit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/envied-wit-3112342/) [Envy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/envy/) [Envy Merit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/envy-merit-2253354/) [Like Shadow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-shadow/) [Shadow Proves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shadow-proves-3112343/) [Wit Like](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wit-like-1328523/) ## Related quotes > [Envy will merit as its shade pursue, But like a shadow, proves the substance true.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/envy-will-merit-as-its-shade-pursue-but-like-a-shadow-proves-the-2/) [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/) > [Wit, like money, bears an extra value when rung down immediately it is wanted. Men pay severely who require credit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-william-jerrold/wit-like-money-bears-an-extra-value-when-rung-down-immediately-it-is/) [Douglas William Jerrold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-william-jerrold/) > [Wit, like poetry, is insusceptible of being constructed upon rules founded merely in reason. Like faith, it exists independent of reason, and sometimes in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-nestell-bovee/wit-like-poetry-is-insusceptible-of-being-constructed-upon-rules/) [Christian Nestell Bovee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-nestell-bovee/) > [“I have a black belt in sarcasm, and my wit is like lightning.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-r-walker/i-have-a-black-belt-in-sarcasm-and-my-wit-is-like-lightning/) [N.R. Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-r-walker/) > [Well, something must be done for May, The time is drawing nigh-- To figure in the Catalogue, And woo the public eye. Something I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hood/well-something-must-be-done-for-may-the-time-is-drawing-nigh-to/) [Thomas Hood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hood/) > [Wit makes its own welcome, and levels all distinction. No dignity, no learning, no force of character, can make any stand against good wit.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/wit-makes-its-own-welcome-and-levels-all-distinction-no-dignity-no/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Smoe relationships are just like your shadow. They will never leave you alone, but should be ready to die with you or die for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irrardiant/smoe-relationships-are-just-like-your-shadow-they-will-never-leave/) [Irrardiant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irrardiant/) > [“I'll be so quiet for you. Look like a child for you. Be like a shadow of a shadow Of a shadow for you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-hadreas/i-ll-be-so-quiet-for-you-look-like-a-child-for-you-be-like-a-shadow/) [Mike Hadreas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-hadreas/) > [False friends are like your shadow; they follow you in the sun, but leave your side when it gets dark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/false-friends-are-like-your-shadow-they-follow-you-in-the-sun-but/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Everyone has a temptation; a weakness that they would yield to. Mine is you. Not only you, but your love. For your love is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-megan-varnadore/everyone-has-a-temptation-a-weakness-that-they-would-yield-to-mine-is/) [Jennifer Megan Varnadore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-megan-varnadore/) > [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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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; For envied wit, like Sol eclips'd, makes known Th' opposing body's grossness, not its own.”", "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/", "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/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1be/alexander-pope-235_envy_envy-will-merit-as-its-shade-pursue-but_333018.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1be/alexander-pope-235_envy_envy-will-merit-as-its-shade-pursue-but_333018.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1be/alexander-pope-235_envy_envy-will-merit-as-its-shade-pursue-but_333018.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Envy will merit, as its shade, pursue, But like a shadow, proves the substance true; For envied wit, like…” — 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/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/envy-will-merit-as-its-shade-pursue-but-like-a-shadow-proves-the/#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 } } ] } ```