--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When you compare yourself with others in…" description: "\"When you compare yourself with others in matters of wealth, position, and health, you should look at people less favoured than yourself. When you compa..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b2b/ibn-hazm-24934_character_when-you-compare-yourself-with-others-in_1401702.png" --- # When you compare yourself with others in matters of… ![“When you compare yourself with others in matters of wealth, position, and health, you should look at people less favoured than yourself. When you compare yourself with others in matters of religion, knowledge and virtue, look at people who are better than yourself.” quote by Ibn Hazm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b2b/ibn-hazm-24934_character_when-you-compare-yourself-with-others-in_1401702.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b2b/ibn-hazm-24934_character_when-you-compare-yourself-with-others-in_1401702.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b2b/ibn-hazm-24934_character_when-you-compare-yourself-with-others-in_1401702.png) > “When you compare yourself with others in matters of wealth, position, and health, you should look at people less favoured than yourself. When you compare yourself with others in matters of religion, knowledge and virtue, look at people who are better than yourself.” [Ibn Hazm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ibn-hazm/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Encourages comparing oneself to those less fortunate in material matters, but to superior individuals in moral and spiritual realms. **In simple terms:** Compare with the less wealthy for material, and with the virtuous for moral growth. Key Takeaway Seek growth by learning from both humility and excellence. Themes ethics self-improvement spirituality Mood contemplative inspirational Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - personal development - spiritual practice - social interactions Key Concepts comparative reflection virtue ethics humility Questions to Reflect On - How do you measure personal success? - Who inspires your moral aspirations? A Different Perspective Balancing comparison can cause envy or discouragement. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Differences](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/differences/) [Health](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/health/) [Individual differences](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/individual-differences/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Jurists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jurists/) [Knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Philosopher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosopher/) [Polymaths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/polymaths/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Theologian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theologian/) [Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtue/) [Wealth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wealth/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/) [Wise man once said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wise-man-once-said/) [Wise words](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wise-words/) [Words of wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/words-of-wisdom/) ## Related quotes > [Because of the great differences in our ways of thinking, it is inevitable that we have different religions and faiths. 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Good inventors are polymaths: they think with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-dyson/having-a-good-idea-is-one-thing-but-persuading-other-people-to-buy-it/) [James Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-dyson/) > [Women are not allowed to be polymaths; we're only allowed to do single maths.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandi-toksvig/women-are-not-allowed-to-be-polymaths-we-re-only-allowed-to-do-single/) [Sandi Toksvig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandi-toksvig/) > [The amount of knowledge which we can justify from evidence directly available to us can never be large. The overwhelming proportion of our factual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-polanyi/the-amount-of-knowledge-which-we-can-justify-from-evidence-directly/) [Michael Polanyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-polanyi/) > [To present a whole world that doesn’t exist and make it seem real, we have to more or less pretend we’re polymaths. That’s just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-gibson/to-present-a-whole-world-that-doesn-t-exist-and-make-it-seem-real-we/) [William Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-gibson/) > [Dark clouds become heaven's flowers when kissed by light.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabindranath-tagore/dark-clouds-become-heaven-s-flowers-when-kissed-by-light/) [Rabindranath Tagore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rabindranath-tagore/) > [“Russell commented that the development of such gifted individuals (referring to polymaths) required a childhood period in which there was little or no pressure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/russell-commented-that-the-development-of-such-gifted-individuals/) [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) > [We should make the poor uncomfortable and kick them out of poverty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/we-should-make-the-poor-uncomfortable-and-kick-them-out-of-poverty/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) ## More by Ibn Hazm > [If there is someone in need whom you wish to help, whether the initiative came from him or from you, do no more than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ibn-hazm/if-there-is-someone-in-need-whom-you-wish-to-help-whether-the/) [Ibn Hazm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ibn-hazm/) > [The wise man knows the only fitting price for his soul is a place in Paradise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ibn-hazm/the-wise-man-knows-the-only-fitting-price-for-his-soul-is-a-place-in/) [Ibn Hazm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ibn-hazm/) > [Knowledge no longer exists if one has ignored the attributes of the Almighty Great Creator.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ibn-hazm/knowledge-no-longer-exists-if-one-has-ignored-the-attributes-of-the/) [Ibn Hazm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ibn-hazm/) > [We should think of those who were famous for their good deeds or their bad deeds; did their fame raise them one single degree…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ibn-hazm/we-should-think-of-those-who-were-famous-for-their-good-deeds-or/) [Ibn Hazm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ibn-hazm/) > [If you are proud of your descent from virtuous ancestors, how empty their virtue will leave your hands if you yourself are not virtuous.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ibn-hazm/if-you-are-proud-of-your-descent-from-virtuous-ancestors-how-empty/) [Ibn Hazm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ibn-hazm/) > [And though the years before I die Stretch out interminably, I Shall only count my life in truth As that brief hour of happy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ibn-hazm/and-though-the-years-before-i-die-stretch-out-interminably-i-shall/) [Ibn Hazm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ibn-hazm/) > [Anyone who rises above the things of this world, to which you kneel, is mightier than you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ibn-hazm/anyone-who-rises-above-the-things-of-this-world-to-which-you-kneel-is/) [Ibn Hazm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ibn-hazm/) > [Two kinds of people live a life without care: one kind are extremely worthy of praise, the other kind are extremely worthy of criticism.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ibn-hazm/two-kinds-of-people-live-a-life-without-care-one-kind-are-extremely/) [Ibn Hazm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ibn-hazm/) > [When we contemplate the duration of the universe, we see it limited to the present moment, which is nothing more but the point which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ibn-hazm/when-we-contemplate-the-duration-of-the-universe-we-see-it-limited-to/) [Ibn Hazm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ibn-hazm/) > [ There are two things that if you do them you will attain the good of this world and the hereafter; \[They are\] that you… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ibn-hazm/there-are-two-things-that-if-you-do-them-you-will-attain-the-good-of/) [Ibn Hazm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ibn-hazm/) > [One hour of neglect can undo a year of pious effort.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ibn-hazm/one-hour-of-neglect-can-undo-a-year-of-pious-effort/) [Ibn Hazm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ibn-hazm/) > [If you advise someone on the condition that they have to accept it, then you are an oppressor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ibn-hazm/if-you-advise-someone-on-the-condition-that-they-have-to-accept-it/) [Ibn Hazm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ibn-hazm/) > [“I have a sickness doctors can't cure, Inexorably pulling me to the well of my destruction, Consented to be a sacrifice, killed for her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ibn-hazm/i-have-a-sickness-doctors-can-t-cure-inexorably-pulling-me-to-the/) [Ibn Hazm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ibn-hazm/) > [If your pride leads you to boast, you will be doubly guilty, because your intelligence will have shown that it is incapable of controlling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ibn-hazm/if-your-pride-leads-you-to-boast-you-will-be-doubly-guilty-because/) [Ibn Hazm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ibn-hazm/) > [Of Love--may God exalt you! -the first part is jesting, and the last part is right earnestness. So majestic are its diverse aspects, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ibn-hazm/of-love-may-god-exalt-you-the-first-part-is-jesting-and-the-last-part/) [Ibn Hazm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ibn-hazm/) [Explore all 23 Ibn Hazm quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ibn-hazm/) ## More Character quotes > [This may sound strange, but although I feel like I know everything about my characters, the brand of shampoo they use, how many cavities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-honeyman/this-may-sound-strange-but-although-i-feel-like-i-know-everything/) [Gail Honeyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-honeyman/) > [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [Social responsibility above the level of family, or at most of tribe, requires imagination-- devotion, loyalty, all the higher virtues -- which a man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/social-responsibility-above-the-level-of-family-or-at-most-of-tribe/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [Reader, if you are gifted with nerves like mine, aspire to any character but that of a wit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/reader-if-you-are-gifted-with-nerves-like-mine-aspire-to-any/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) > [I'm often moved by the circumstances around some of my characters, but I don't think I've actually cried watching myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-winslet/i-m-often-moved-by-the-circumstances-around-some-of-my-characters-but/) [Kate Winslet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-winslet/) > [When you're on a daytime drama you get one page, you better damn well know your character. You better know what she would do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hudgins/when-you-re-on-a-daytime-drama-you-get-one-page-you-better-damn-well/) David Hudgins > [It can sometimes make people fold into themselves and kind of run away, but I think in this case these characters are being forced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-deschanel/it-can-sometimes-make-people-fold-into-themselves-and-kind-of-run/) [Emily Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-deschanel/) > [If you are well-mannered towards those whose views are similar to yours, you may be said to exhibit a fairly good character. But, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-are-well-mannered-towards-those-whose-views-are-similar-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-is-based-on-the-conviction-that-man-has-the-moral-and/) [Harry S. 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