--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We are often infinitely mistaken, and…" description: "\"We are often infinitely mistaken, and take the falsest measures, when we envy the happiness of rich and great men; we know not the inward canker that e..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a6/joseph-hall-7416_delight_we-are-often-infinitely-mistaken-and-tak_641747.png" --- # We are often infinitely mistaken, and take the falsest… ![“We are often infinitely mistaken, and take the falsest measures, when we envy the happiness of rich and great men; we know not the inward canker that eats out all their joy and delight, and makes them really much more miserable than ourselves.” quote by Joseph Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a6/joseph-hall-7416_delight_we-are-often-infinitely-mistaken-and-tak_641747.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a6/joseph-hall-7416_delight_we-are-often-infinitely-mistaken-and-tak_641747.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a6/joseph-hall-7416_delight_we-are-often-infinitely-mistaken-and-tak_641747.png) > “We are often infinitely mistaken, and take the falsest measures, when we envy the happiness of rich and great men; we know not the inward canker that eats out all their joy and delight, and makes them really much more miserable than ourselves.” [Joseph Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-hall/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Envy blinds us to others' inner struggles, leading to misguided actions. **In simple terms:** Envy misleads us. Key Takeaway Recognize and temper envy. Themes envy misperception human suffering Mood thoughtful cautionary Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal growth - conflict resolution - mental health Key Concepts psychology ethics self‑awareness Questions to Reflect On - What hidden pains might you be overlooking? - How can you turn envy into self‑improvement? A Different Perspective Envy can sometimes motivate positive change. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Delight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/delight/) [Envy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/envy/) [Envy Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/envy-happiness-1839481/) [Great men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-men/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Infinitely Mistaken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/infinitely-mistaken-5150563/) [Inward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inward/) [Joy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/joy/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Measures Envy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/measures-envy-5150562/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Miserable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/miserable/) [Mistaken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mistaken/) [Mistaken Falsest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mistaken-falsest-5150564/) [Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rich/) ## Related quotes > [Pray the gods do not envy your happiness!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euripides/pray-the-gods-do-not-envy-your-happiness/) [Euripides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euripides/) > [“Anna has a stab of jealousy - she is thrilled for them, yet can't help but envy their happiness. 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Amy could feel it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-strout/by-the-time-they-were-pulling-into-the-parking-lot-of-the-a-p-the/) [Elizabeth Strout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-strout/) > [The things of the world are ever rising and falling, and in perpetual change; and this change must be according to the will of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-von-humboldt/the-things-of-the-world-are-ever-rising-and-falling-and-in-perpetual/) [Wilhelm von Humboldt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-von-humboldt/) > [True freedom is an inward state of being. Once it is attained, no situation in the world can bind one or limit one's freedom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-canfield/true-freedom-is-an-inward-state-of-being-once-it-is-attained-no/) [Jack Canfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-canfield/) > [“In the ebb and flow of my life, in years gone by, in moments now, in currents, undertows that almost did me in, someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-trabold/in-the-ebb-and-flow-of-my-life-in-years-gone-by-in-moments-now-in/) [Robert Trabold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-trabold/) > [The Holy Ghost is the greatest guarantor of inward peace in our unstable world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-e-faust/the-holy-ghost-is-the-greatest-guarantor-of-inward-peace-in-our/) [James E. Faust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-e-faust/) > [In proportion as our inward life fails, we go more constantly and desperately to the post office. You may depend on it, that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/in-proportion-as-our-inward-life-fails-we-go-more-constantly-and/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [There is an idea that you can take the spiritual teachings of a religion outside of a religion and practice them; these ideas are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seyyed-hossein-nasr/there-is-an-idea-that-you-can-take-the-spiritual-teachings-of-a/) [Seyyed Hossein Nasr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seyyed-hossein-nasr/) ## More by Joseph Hall > [A reputation once broken may possibly be repaired, but the world will always keep their eyes on the spot where the crack was.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-hall/a-reputation-once-broken-may-possibly-be-repaired-but-the-world-will/) [Joseph Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-hall/) > [And, if I were so low that I accounted myself the worst of all, yet some would account themselves in worse case.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-hall/and-if-i-were-so-low-that-i-accounted-myself-the-worst-of-all-yet/) [Joseph Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-hall/) > [The life of doctrine is in application.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-hall/the-life-of-doctrine-is-in-application/) [Joseph Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-hall/) > [Words are as they are taken, and things are as they are used. There are even cursed blessings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-hall/words-are-as-they-are-taken-and-things-are-as-they-are-used-there-are/) [Joseph Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-hall/) > [We must first pray, that God would make us wise; before we can wish, he would make us happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-hall/we-must-first-pray-that-god-would-make-us-wise-before-we-can-wish-he/) [Joseph Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-hall/) > [I account this body nothing but a close prison to my soul; and the earth a larger prison to my body. 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By our calling, arguing our election.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-hall/mark-in-what-order-first-our-calling-then-our-election-not-beginning/) [Joseph Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-hall/) > [Fools measure actions, after they are done, by the event; wise men beforehand, by the rules of reason and right. The former look to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-hall/fools-measure-actions-after-they-are-done-by-the-event-wise-men/) [Joseph Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-hall/) > [Earthly greatness is a nice thing, and requires so much chariness in the managing, as the contentment of it cannot requite.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-hall/earthly-greatness-is-a-nice-thing-and-requires-so-much-chariness-in/) [Joseph Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-hall/) > [A good man is kinder to his enemy than bad men are to their friends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-hall/a-good-man-is-kinder-to-his-enemy-than-bad-men-are-to-their-friends/) [Joseph Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-hall/) > [The ear and the eye are the mind's receivers; but the tongue is only busy in expending the treasures received. 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