Envied Quote by Herodotus
“How much better a thing it is to be envied than to be pitied.”
About This Quote
Source Historical text: Histories, Herodotus, 5th century BC
Being envied is preferable to being pitied because it reflects admiration rather than pity.
In simple terms: Envied is better than pitied.
Key Takeaway
Seek admiration, not sympathy.
Themes
social status
esteem
human nature
Mood
reflective
critical
Type
philosophical
observational
When to use this quote
- career advancement
- public speaking
- leadership
- social media presence
Key Concepts
anthropology
ethics
psychology
Questions to Reflect On
- Do you prefer admiration over sympathy?
- What does envy reveal about your values?
A Different Perspective
Envy can breed resentment; not always positive.
![“If our inward griefs were seen written on our brow, how many would be pitied who are now envied! [It., Se a ciascun l'interno affanno Si leggesse in fronte scritto, Quanti mai, che invidia fanno, Ci farebbero pieta!].” quote by Pietro Metastasio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/12a/pietro-metastasio-24319_brows_if-our-inward-griefs-were-seen-written-o_2596015.jpg)
![“They [the Persians] are accustomed to deliberate on matters of the highest moment when warm with wine; but whatever they in this situation may determine is again proposed to them on the morrow, in their cooler moments, by the person in whose house they had before assembled. If at this time also it…” quote by Herodotus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/db3/herodotus-2844_accustomed_they-the-persians-are-accustomed-to-deli_295502.jpg)
