--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: ENVY, n. Emulation adapted to the meanest…" description: "\"ENVY, n. Emulation adapted to the meanest capacity.\" — Ambrose Bierce" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/121/ambrose-bierce-140_adapted_envy-n-emulation-adapted-to-the-meanest_1454692.jpg" --- # ENVY, n. Emulation adapted to the meanest capacity. ![“ENVY, n. Emulation adapted to the meanest capacity.” quote by Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/121/ambrose-bierce-140_adapted_envy-n-emulation-adapted-to-the-meanest_1454692.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/121/ambrose-bierce-140_adapted_envy-n-emulation-adapted-to-the-meanest_1454692.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/121/ambrose-bierce-140_adapted_envy-n-emulation-adapted-to-the-meanest_1454692.jpg) > “ENVY, n. Emulation adapted to the meanest capacity.” [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Envy is a desire to emulate others, reduced to the lowest capacity. **In simple terms:** Envy is low‑level imitation. Key Takeaway Recognize envy’s shallow roots. Themes psychology human nature motivation Mood analytical critical Type philosophical psychological When to use this quote - self‑reflection - goal setting - career planning Key Concepts comparative desire social status Questions to Reflect On - What drives your envy? - Can envy be constructive? A Different Perspective Envy can also motivate growth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Adapted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adapted/) [Adapted Meanest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adapted-meanest-5239876/) [Capacity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/capacity/) [Emulation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emulation/) [Emulation Adapted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emulation-adapted-5239875/) [Envied](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/envied/) [Envy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/envy/) [Envy Emulation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/envy-emulation-5239873/) [Meanest Capacity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meanest-capacity-5239874/) ## Related quotes > [Envy, to which th' ignoble mind's a slave, Is emulation in the learn'd or brave.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/envy-to-which-th-ignoble-mind-s-a-slave-is-emulation-in-the-learn-d/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [“Their regard may be mutually useful, since much is to be expected from emulation where nothing is to be feared from envy. I”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fanny-burney/their-regard-may-be-mutually-useful-since-much-is-to-be-expected-from/) [Fanny Burney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fanny-burney/) > [Where there is emulation, there will be vanity; where there is vanity, there will be folly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/where-there-is-emulation-there-will-be-vanity-where-there-is-vanity/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [As an advocate of birth control I wish to point out that the unbalance between the birth rate of the 'unfit' and the 'fit,'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-sanger/as-an-advocate-of-birth-control-i-wish-to-point-out-that-the/) [Margaret Sanger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-sanger/) > [Praise begets emulation,--a goodly seed to sow among youthful students.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-mann/praise-begets-emulation-a-goodly-seed-to-sow-among-youthful-students/) [Horace Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-mann/) > [With the exception of the instinct of self-preservation, the propensity for emulation is probably the strongest and most alert and persistent of the economic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thorstein-veblen/with-the-exception-of-the-instinct-of-self-preservation-the/) [Thorstein Veblen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thorstein-veblen/) > [An envious fever of pale and bloodless emulation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/an-envious-fever-of-pale-and-bloodless-emulation/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Emulation admires and strives to imitate great actions; envy is only moved to malice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/emulation-admires-and-strives-to-imitate-great-actions-envy-is-only/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [Unsuccessful emulation is too apt to sink into envy, which of all sins has not even the excuse to offer of temporary gratification.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-thompson-dobell/unsuccessful-emulation-is-too-apt-to-sink-into-envy-which-of-all-sins/) [Sydney Thompson Dobell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-thompson-dobell/) > [Emulation, even in brutes, is sensitively "nervous." See the tremor of the thoroughbred racer before he starts. The dray-horse does not tremble, but he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/emulation-even-in-brutes-is-sensitively-nervous-see-the-tremor-of-the/) [Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/) > [Emulation is grief arising from seeing one's self, exceeded or excelled by his concurrent, together with hope to equal or exceed him in time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hobbes/emulation-is-grief-arising-from-seeing-one-s-self-exceeded-or/) [Thomas Hobbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hobbes/) > [No pedagogy which is truly liberating can remain distant from the oppressed by treating them as unfortunates and by presenting for their emulation models…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-freire/no-pedagogy-which-is-truly-liberating-can-remain-distant-from-the/) [Paulo Freire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-freire/) > [In particular, it is absurd to hope to banish envy of other people's possessions or fortunes, if only because the spirit of envy can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/in-particular-it-is-absurd-to-hope-to-banish-envy-of-other-people-s/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [I am far from any intention to limit curiosity, or confine the labours of learning to arts of immediate and necessary use. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/i-am-far-from-any-intention-to-limit-curiosity-or-confine-the-labours/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Terror has its inspiration, as well as competition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/terror-has-its-inspiration-as-well-as-competition/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) ## More by Ambrose Bierce > [OBSESSED, p.p. Vexed by an evil spirit, like the Gadarene swine and other critics. Obsession was once more common than it is now. Arasthus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/obsessed-p-p-vexed-by-an-evil-spirit-like-the-gadarene-swine-and/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [DECIDE, v.i. To succumb to the preponderance of one set of influences over another set.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/decide-v-i-to-succumb-to-the-preponderance-of-one-set-of-influences/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [IMMORAL, adj. Inexpedient. Whatever in the long run and with regard to the greater number of instances men find to be generally inexpedient comes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/immoral-adj-inexpedient-whatever-in-the-long-run-and-with-regard-to/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [REVIEW, v.t. To set your wisdom (holding not a doubt of it./ Although in truth there's neither bone nor skin to it)/ At work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/review-v-t-to-set-your-wisdom-holding-not-a-doubt-of-it-although-in/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [CLOCK, n. A machine of great moral value to man, allaying his concern for the future by reminding him what a lot of time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/clock-n-a-machine-of-great-moral-value-to-man-allaying-his-concern/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [RUBBISH, n. Worthless matter, such as the religions, philosophies, literatures, arts and sciences of the tribes infesting the regions lying due south from Boreaplas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/rubbish-n-worthless-matter-such-as-the-religions-philosophies/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [There was never a genius who was not thought a fool until he disclosed himself; whereas he is a fool then only.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/there-was-never-a-genius-who-was-not-thought-a-fool-until-he/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [Telephone, n. An invention of the devil which abrogates some of the advantages of making a disagreeable person keep his distance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/telephone-n-an-invention-of-the-devil-which-abrogates-some-of-the/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [WHANGDEPOOTENAWAH, n. In the Ojibwa tongue, disaster; an unexpected affliction that strikes hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/whangdepootenawah-n-in-the-ojibwa-tongue-disaster-an-unexpected/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [Jealous, adj. Unduly concerned about the preservation of that which can be lost only if not worth keeping.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/jealous-adj-unduly-concerned-about-the-preservation-of-that-which-can/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [RIDICULE, n. Words designed to show that the person of whom they are uttered is devoid of the dignity of character distinguishing him who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/ridicule-n-words-designed-to-show-that-the-person-of-whom-they-are/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [Think twice before you speak to a friend in need](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/think-twice-before-you-speak-to-a-friend-in-need/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [HERMIT, n. A person whose vices and follies are not sociable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/hermit-n-a-person-whose-vices-and-follies-are-not-sociable/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [TARIFF, n. A scale of taxes on imports, designed to protect the domestic producer against the greed of his consumer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/tariff-n-a-scale-of-taxes-on-imports-designed-to-protect-the-domestic/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [A bad marriage is like an electrical thrilling machine: it makes you dance, but you can't let go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/a-bad-marriage-is-like-an-electrical-thrilling-machine-it-makes-you/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) [Explore all 1,157 Ambrose Bierce quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) ## More Adapted quotes > [A 'modern' man has nothing to add to modernism, if only because he has nothing to oppose it with. The well-adapted drop off the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elias-canetti/a-modern-man-has-nothing-to-add-to-modernism-if-only-because-he-has/) [Elias Canetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elias-canetti/) > [. . . by natural selection our mind has adapted itself to the conditions of the external world. It has adopted the geometry most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-poincare/by-natural-selection-our-mind-has-adapted-itself-to-the-conditions-of/) [Henri Poincare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-poincare/) > [ David Mamet, Tim Kazurinsky, and Denise DeClue, who adapted \[ About Last Night\]. Between the three of them... I mean, it's always down to… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-lowe/david-mamet-tim-kazurinsky-and-denise-declue-who-adapted-about-last/) [Rob Lowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-lowe/) > [To be quite honest, I've been very blessed when I've worked with Hollywood. The studios that have purchased my work to be adapted to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/to-be-quite-honest-i-ve-been-very-blessed-when-i-ve-worked-with/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) > [More birds have adapted to a changing world than have failed. Very few have the narrow tolerance of the ivory-billed woodpecker or the Bachman's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-tory-peterson/more-birds-have-adapted-to-a-changing-world-than-have-failed-very-few/) [Roger Tory Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-tory-peterson/) > [All our surest statements about the nature of the world are mathematical statements, yet we do not know what mathematics "is"... and so we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-d-barrow/all-our-surest-statements-about-the-nature-of-the-world-are/) [John D. Barrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-d-barrow/) > [I believe that never was a country better adapted to produce a great race of women than this Canada of ours, nor a race…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-murphy/i-believe-that-never-was-a-country-better-adapted-to-produce-a-great/) [Emily Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-murphy/) > [The symptoms of fascist thinking are colored by environment and adapted to immediate circumstances. But always and everywhere they can be identified by their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-wallace/the-symptoms-of-fascist-thinking-are-colored-by-environment-and/) [Henry A. Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-wallace/) > [The man who gets bit twice by the same dog is better adapted for that kind of business than any other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/the-man-who-gets-bit-twice-by-the-same-dog-is-better-adapted-for-that/) [Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) > [That which is wrong under one circumstance, may be, and often is, right under another. God said, 'Thou shalt not kill'; at another time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/that-which-is-wrong-under-one-circumstance-may-be-and-often-is-right/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Accustom yourself to master and overcome things of difficulty; for if you observe, the left hand for want of practice is insignificant, and not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pliny-the-elder/accustom-yourself-to-master-and-overcome-things-of-difficulty-for-if/) [Pliny the Elder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pliny-the-elder/) > [I have a very clear perception what the Internet is in my mind. I'm free. I'm not defined by what they say is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-drudge/i-have-a-very-clear-perception-what-the-internet-is-in-my-mind-i-m/) [Matt Drudge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-drudge/) > [In my career as a coach, I have adapted constantly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/javi-gracia/in-my-career-as-a-coach-i-have-adapted-constantly/) [Javi Gracia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/javi-gracia/) > [The time is probably near when a new system of architectural laws will be developed, adapted entirely to metallic construction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/the-time-is-probably-near-when-a-new-system-of-architectural-laws/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [Ideology knows the answer before the question has been asked. Principles are something different: a set of values that have to be adapted to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-packer/ideology-knows-the-answer-before-the-question-has-been-asked/) [George Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-packer/) [Browse all 300 Adapted quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adapted/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "ENVY, n. Emulation adapted to the meanest capacity.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ambrose Bierce" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/envy-n-emulation-adapted-to-the-meanest-capacity/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Adapted" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/envy-n-emulation-adapted-to-the-meanest-capacity/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/121/ambrose-bierce-140_adapted_envy-n-emulation-adapted-to-the-meanest_1454692.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/121/ambrose-bierce-140_adapted_envy-n-emulation-adapted-to-the-meanest_1454692.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/121/ambrose-bierce-140_adapted_envy-n-emulation-adapted-to-the-meanest_1454692.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“ENVY, n. Emulation adapted to the meanest capacity.” — Ambrose Bierce", "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": "Ambrose Bierce", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "ENVY, n. Emulation adapted to the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/envy-n-emulation-adapted-to-the-meanest-capacity/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/envy-n-emulation-adapted-to-the-meanest-capacity/#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 } } ] } ```