--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: How much better a thing it is to be…" description: "\"How much better a thing it is to be envied than to be pitied.\" — Herodotus" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9af/herodotus-2844_envied_how-much-better-a-thing-it-is-to-be-envi_2894888.jpg" --- # How much better a thing it is to be envied than to be… ![“How much better a thing it is to be envied than to be pitied.” quote by Herodotus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9af/herodotus-2844_envied_how-much-better-a-thing-it-is-to-be-envi_2894888.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9af/herodotus-2844_envied_how-much-better-a-thing-it-is-to-be-envi_2894888.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9af/herodotus-2844_envied_how-much-better-a-thing-it-is-to-be-envi_2894888.jpg) > “How much better a thing it is to be envied than to be pitied.” [Herodotus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herodotus/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. 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. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Better Thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better-thing-734299/) [Envied](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/envied/) [Envied Pitied](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/envied-pitied-846959/) [Pitied](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pitied/) [Thing Envied](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thing-envied-4085433/) ## Related quotes > [It is better to be envied than pitied.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herodotus/it-is-better-to-be-envied-than-pitied/) [Herodotus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herodotus/) > [If our inward griefs were written on our brows, how many who are envied now would be pitied. It would seem that they had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pietro-metastasio/if-our-inward-griefs-were-written-on-our-brows-how-many-who-are/) [Pietro Metastasio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pietro-metastasio/) > [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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pietro-metastasio/if-our-inward-griefs-were-seen-written-on-our-brow-how-many-would-be/) [Pietro Metastasio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pietro-metastasio/) > [“If you let something go for a good reason, you'll get a better thing in return. iA.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aishah-madadiy/if-you-let-something-go-for-a-good-reason-you-ll-get-a-better-thing/) [Aishah Madadiy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aishah-madadiy/) > [The only better thing than a unicorn, is a gay unicorn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lady-gaga/the-only-better-thing-than-a-unicorn-is-a-gay-unicorn/) [Lady Gaga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lady-gaga/) > [Once the world sees you as that one thing, and the better you are at that thing, the more you can only be that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maverick-carter/once-the-world-sees-you-as-that-one-thing-and-the-better-you-are-at/) [Maverick Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maverick-carter/) > [A better thing to grow up with is to be funny I think, and if I had, if I had my choice I would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joy-behar/a-better-thing-to-grow-up-with-is-to-be-funny-i-think-and-if-i-had-if/) [Joy Behar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joy-behar/) > [When is that whole 'old enough to know better' thing supposed to kick in?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-is-that-whole-old-enough-to-know-better-thing-supposed-to-kick-in/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It’s better to do one thing well than ten things poorly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-hart/it-s-better-to-do-one-thing-well-than-ten-things-poorly/) [Heather Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-hart/) > [You get better at the thing you do by having to explain it to someone else. That, I think, totally makes my work stronger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/branden-jacobs-jenkins/you-get-better-at-the-thing-you-do-by-having-to-explain-it-to-someone/) [Branden Jacobs-Jenkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/branden-jacobs-jenkins/) > [“The more time you invest, the better you become at that thing”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/the-more-time-you-invest-the-better-you-become-at-that-thing/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [“There is no better thing on this Earth than pie. ” I smile”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-is-no-better-thing-on-this-earth-than-pie-i-smile/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It's better to do one thing at a time and give your full concentration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-fernandes/it-s-better-to-do-one-thing-at-a-time-and-give-your-full-concentration/) [Erica Fernandes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-fernandes/) > [It seems as if when you try to do just one thing and nothing but, you can't do it at all. You do everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-hale/it-seems-as-if-when-you-try-to-do-just-one-thing-and-nothing-but-you/) [Nancy Hale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-hale/) > ['It could be better' is the only thing that anyone should write in the margins of their own script.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ol-parker/it-could-be-better-is-the-only-thing-that-anyone-should-write-in-the/) [Ol Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ol-parker/) ## More by Herodotus > [Haste in every business brings failures.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herodotus/haste-in-every-business-brings-failures/) [Herodotus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herodotus/) > [A real friend ... exults in his friend’s happiness, rejoices in all his joys, and is ready to afford him the best advice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herodotus/a-real-friend-exults-in-his-friend-s-happiness-rejoices-in-all-his/) [Herodotus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herodotus/) > [Some men give up their designs when they have almost reached the goal; While others, on the contrary, obtain a victory by exerting, at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herodotus/some-men-give-up-their-designs-when-they-have-almost-reached-the-goal/) [Herodotus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herodotus/) > [I know that human happiness never remains long in the same place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herodotus/i-know-that-human-happiness-never-remains-long-in-the-same-place/) [Herodotus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herodotus/) > [Happiness is not fame or riches or heroic virtues, but a state that will inspire posterity to think in reflecting upon our life, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herodotus/happiness-is-not-fame-or-riches-or-heroic-virtues-but-a-state-that/) [Herodotus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herodotus/) > [But I like not these great success of yours; for I know how jealous are the gods.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herodotus/but-i-like-not-these-great-success-of-yours-for-i-know-how-jealous/) [Herodotus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herodotus/) > [Knowledge may give weight, but accomplishments give lustre, and many more people see than weigh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herodotus/knowledge-may-give-weight-but-accomplishments-give-lustre-and-many/) [Herodotus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herodotus/) > [Very few things happen at the right time, and the rest do not happen at all. The conscientious historian will correct these defects.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herodotus/very-few-things-happen-at-the-right-time-and-the-rest-do-not-happen/) [Herodotus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herodotus/) > [ They \[the Persians\] are accustomed to deliberate on matters of the highest moment when warm with wine; but whatever they in this situation may… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herodotus/they-the-persians-are-accustomed-to-deliberate-on-matters-of-the/) [Herodotus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herodotus/) > [Circumstances rule men; men do not rule circumstances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herodotus/circumstances-rule-men-men-do-not-rule-circumstances/) [Herodotus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herodotus/) > [To think well and to consent to obey someone giving good advice are the same thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herodotus/to-think-well-and-to-consent-to-obey-someone-giving-good-advice-are/) [Herodotus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herodotus/) > [Unless a variety of opinions are laid before us, we have no opportunity of selection, but are bound of necessity to adopt the particular…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herodotus/unless-a-variety-of-opinions-are-laid-before-us-we-have-no/) [Herodotus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herodotus/) > [Of all possessions a friend is the most precious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herodotus/of-all-possessions-a-friend-is-the-most-precious/) [Herodotus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herodotus/) > [Those who are guided by reason are generally successful in their plans; those who are rash and precipitate seldom enjoy the favour of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herodotus/those-who-are-guided-by-reason-are-generally-successful-in-their/) [Herodotus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herodotus/) > [The gods loves to punish whatever is greater than the rest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herodotus/the-gods-loves-to-punish-whatever-is-greater-than-the-rest/) [Herodotus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herodotus/) [Explore all 145 Herodotus quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herodotus/) ## More Envied quotes > [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/) > [Whatever withdraws us from the power of our senses; whatever makes the past, the distant, or the future, predominate over the present, advances us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/whatever-withdraws-us-from-the-power-of-our-senses-whatever-makes-the/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [If our inward griefs were written on our brows, how many who are envied now would be pitied. It would seem that they had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pietro-metastasio/if-our-inward-griefs-were-written-on-our-brows-how-many-who-are/) [Pietro Metastasio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pietro-metastasio/) > [There was a rivalry - and some pie-throwing. But that was probably because Gawker and Radar had more in common than they wanted to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-denton/there-was-a-rivalry-and-some-pie-throwing-but-that-was-probably/) [Nick Denton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-denton/) > [Each of them berated you, because they feared and envied you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/each-of-them-berated-you-because-they-feared-and-envied-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [He will be loved when dead, who was envied when he was living.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace/he-will-be-loved-when-dead-who-was-envied-when-he-was-living/) [Horace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace/) > [The pastoral labours of the archbishop of Constantinople provoked and gradually united against him two sorts of enemies; the aspiring clergy, who envied his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/the-pastoral-labours-of-the-archbishop-of-constantinople-provoked-and/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [Since biblical times, and probably before, the wealthy have been envied and condemned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conrad-black/since-biblical-times-and-probably-before-the-wealthy-have-been-envied/) [Conrad Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conrad-black/) > [Envy assails the noblest: the winds howl around the highest peaks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/envy-assails-the-noblest-the-winds-howl-around-the-highest-peaks/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [The famous are balloons far up in the sky, to be envied for their quiet freedom or shot down as enemies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-miller/the-famous-are-balloons-far-up-in-the-sky-to-be-envied-for-their/) [Arthur Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-miller/) > [I've always envied girls having Ugg boots, so when I found some for men, I had to have them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-warren/i-ve-always-envied-girls-having-ugg-boots-so-when-i-found-some-for/) [Marc Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-warren/) > [People knew less of each other, perhaps, but they felt more free of each other, and so were more individual. The entire world was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fowles/people-knew-less-of-each-other-perhaps-but-they-felt-more-free-of/) [John Fowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fowles/) > [I've always slightly envied other actors I know who have different reputations. I think, 'God, you don't get people coming up to you, going,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-freeman/i-ve-always-slightly-envied-other-actors-i-know-who-have-different/) [Martin Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-freeman/) > [Envy ought to have no place allowed it in the hearts of people; for the goods of this present world are so vile and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/envy-ought-to-have-no-place-allowed-it-in-the-hearts-of-people-for/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [Turkey is widely envied while there are very serious troubles in the world economy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ali-babacan/turkey-is-widely-envied-while-there-are-very-serious-troubles-in-the/) [Ali Babacan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ali-babacan/) [Browse all 121 Envied quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/envied/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "How much better a thing it is to be envied than to be pitied.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Herodotus" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herodotus/how-much-better-a-thing-it-is-to-be-envied-than-to-be-pitied/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Envied" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herodotus/how-much-better-a-thing-it-is-to-be-envied-than-to-be-pitied/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9af/herodotus-2844_envied_how-much-better-a-thing-it-is-to-be-envi_2894888.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9af/herodotus-2844_envied_how-much-better-a-thing-it-is-to-be-envi_2894888.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9af/herodotus-2844_envied_how-much-better-a-thing-it-is-to-be-envi_2894888.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“How much better a thing it is to be envied than to be pitied.” — Herodotus", "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": "Herodotus", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herodotus/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "How much better a thing it...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herodotus/how-much-better-a-thing-it-is-to-be-envied-than-to-be-pitied/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herodotus/how-much-better-a-thing-it-is-to-be-envied-than-to-be-pitied/#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 } } ] } ```