--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is always better to imitate a…" description: "\"It is always better to imitate a successful man than to envy him.\" — Napoleon Hill" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d5c/napoleon-hill-201_envy_it-is-always-better-to-imitate-a-success_2285742.jpg" --- # It is always better to imitate a successful man than to… ![“It is always better to imitate a successful man than to envy him.” quote by Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d5c/napoleon-hill-201_envy_it-is-always-better-to-imitate-a-success_2285742.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d5c/napoleon-hill-201_envy_it-is-always-better-to-imitate-a-success_2285742.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d5c/napoleon-hill-201_envy_it-is-always-better-to-imitate-a-success_2285742.jpg) > “It is always better to imitate a successful man than to envy him.” [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Success is best pursued by learning from those who have already achieved it rather than merely feeling jealous of them. **In simple terms:** Copy successful people instead of envying them. Key Takeaway Learn from role models. Themes success learning envy Mood motivational pragmatic Type advice inspirational When to use this quote - career development - entrepreneurship - personal growth - mentorship - networking Key Concepts imitation role models achievement Questions to Reflect On - Who can you emulate today? - How does envy hinder progress? A Different Perspective Imitation may stifle originality. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Envy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/envy/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Successful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/successful/) ## Related quotes > [The only man I envy is the man who has not yet been to Africa- for he has so much to look forward to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-mullins/the-only-man-i-envy-is-the-man-who-has-not-yet-been-to-africa-for-he/) [Rich Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-mullins/) > [It is better to imitate ancient than modern work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-da-vinci/it-is-better-to-imitate-ancient-than-modern-work/) [Leonardo da Vinci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-da-vinci/) > [There's no one better to imitate than Carly Fiorina when it comes to a successful woman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-spicer/there-s-no-one-better-to-imitate-than-carly-fiorina-when-it-comes-to/) [Sean Spicer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-spicer/) > [You will be able to check envy if you rejoice with the man whom you envy whenever he rejoices, and grieve whenever he grieves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maximus-the-confessor/you-will-be-able-to-check-envy-if-you-rejoice-with-the-man-whom-you/) [Maximus the Confessor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maximus-the-confessor/) > [We see how much a man has, and therefore we envy him; did we see how little he enjoys, we should rather pity him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremiah-seed/we-see-how-much-a-man-has-and-therefore-we-envy-him-did-we-see-how/) [Jeremiah Seed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremiah-seed/) > [So there I was, with the two hottest girls on campus, having lunch. I was "the man", the envy of every other guy in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendelin-van-draanen/so-there-i-was-with-the-two-hottest-girls-on-campus-having-lunch-i/) [Wendelin Van Draanen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendelin-van-draanen/) > [Man's envy is at its most intense where all are almost equal; his calls for redistribution are loudest when there is virtually nothing to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helmut-schoeck/man-s-envy-is-at-its-most-intense-where-all-are-almost-equal-his/) [Helmut Schoeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helmut-schoeck/) > [The successful man or woman always looks for the advantage or benefit in every situation and lo and behold, they always find it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/the-successful-man-or-woman-always-looks-for-the-advantage-or-benefit/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [I began to make inquiries of the hundreds of successful men who collaborated with me in the organization of the science of success, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/i-began-to-make-inquiries-of-the-hundreds-of-successful-men-who/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [Successful men and women become successful because they acquire the habit of thinking in terms of success. Get the success habit in the small…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/successful-men-and-women-become-successful-because-they-acquire-the/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [A successful man has the following qualities: A smile that doesn't die; patience; fearless mind; love; self- confidence; love for everybody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-sri-ravi-shankar/a-successful-man-has-the-following-qualities-a-smile-that-doesn-t-die/) [Sri Sri Ravi Shankar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-sri-ravi-shankar/) > [The giants of the race have been men of concentration, who have struck sledge-hammer blows in one place until they have accomplished their purpose.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orison-swett-marden/the-giants-of-the-race-have-been-men-of-concentration-who-have-struck/) [Orison Swett Marden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orison-swett-marden/) > [The most important rules that I ever adopted to help me in achieving my goals were those I learned from a very successful man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-robbins/the-most-important-rules-that-i-ever-adopted-to-help-me-in-achieving/) [Tony Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-robbins/) > [I don't care how rich and successful a man is. He's nothing without an education.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-dangerfield/i-don-t-care-how-rich-and-successful-a-man-is-he-s-nothing-without-an/) [Rodney Dangerfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-dangerfield/) > [Behind every successful man, there's a beautiful woman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hammody-ali/behind-every-successful-man-there-s-a-beautiful-woman/) [Hammody Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hammody-ali/) ## More by Napoleon Hill > [Your world will change whether or not you choose to change, but you have the power to choose it's direction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/your-world-will-change-whether-or-not-you-choose-to-change-but-you/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [The best way to succeed in this world is to act on the advice you give to others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/the-best-way-to-succeed-in-this-world-is-to-act-on-the-advice-you/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [A state of mind is something that one assumes. It cannot be purchased, it must be created.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/a-state-of-mind-is-something-that-one-assumes-it-cannot-be-purchased/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [The mind requires regular use to remain strong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/the-mind-requires-regular-use-to-remain-strong/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [The vast majority of people are born, grow up, struggle and go through life in misery and failure, not realizing that it would be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/the-vast-majority-of-people-are-born-grow-up-struggle-and-go-through/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [No accurate thinker will judge another person by that which the other person's enemies say about him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/no-accurate-thinker-will-judge-another-person-by-that-which-the-other/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [“To all these I wish to convey the thought that all achievement, no matter what may be its nature, or its purpose, must begin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/to-all-these-i-wish-to-convey-the-thought-that-all-achievement-no/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [“Tell the world what you intend to do, but first show it.” This”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/tell-the-world-what-you-intend-to-do-but-first-show-it-this/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [Handicaps can be converted into stepping stones on which one may climb toward some worthy goal, unless they are accepted as obstacles, and used…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/handicaps-can-be-converted-into-stepping-stones-on-which-one-may/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [You become what you think about](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/you-become-what-you-think-about/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [Every man's own character is written so all who will may read it, in the expression of his eyes, the tone of his voice,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/every-man-s-own-character-is-written-so-all-who-will-may-read-it-in/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [Life is a mirror of your consistent thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/life-is-a-mirror-of-your-consistent-thoughts/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [Success requires no explanations. Failure permits no alibis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/success-requires-no-explanations-failure-permits-no-alibis/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [The habit of taking the line of least resistance makes all rivers and some men crooked.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/the-habit-of-taking-the-line-of-least-resistance-makes-all-rivers-and/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [“There are no limitations to the mind except those that we acknowledge.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/there-are-no-limitations-to-the-mind-except-those-that-we-acknowledge/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) [Explore all 928 Napoleon Hill quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) ## More Envy quotes > [The vision of the left, full of envy and resentment, takes its worst toll on those at the bottom - whether black or white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/the-vision-of-the-left-full-of-envy-and-resentment-takes-its-worst/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [“He often remembered his dad's admonition that envy was mental theft. If you coveted another man's possessions, Dad said, then you should be willing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontz/he-often-remembered-his-dad-s-admonition-that-envy-was-mental-theft/) [Dean Koontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-koontz/) > [“I don't envy "busy." Busy means having a schedule, not living life. What I really covet is leisure and peace of mind. Those who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-lynn-hope/i-don-t-envy-busy-busy-means-having-a-schedule-not-living-life-what-i/) [Donna Lynn Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-lynn-hope/) > [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/) > [Thinking, or more precisely identification with thinking, gives rise to and maintains the ego, which, in our Western society in particular, is out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/thinking-or-more-precisely-identification-with-thinking-gives-rise-to/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [“Is it not strange that the more someone has, the less he feels he has? Envy can never be sated.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-wheeler/is-it-not-strange-that-the-more-someone-has-the-less-he-feels-he-has/) [Jeff Wheeler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-wheeler/) > [I avoid envy at all costs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claudia-winkleman/i-avoid-envy-at-all-costs/) [Claudia Winkleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claudia-winkleman/) > [Sometimes I envy painters, it is wonderful to remain in front of a bouquet of flowers a whole morning, or even longer. A photographer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edouard-boubat/sometimes-i-envy-painters-it-is-wonderful-to-remain-in-front-of-a/) [Edouard Boubat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edouard-boubat/) > [avarice breeds envy, a worm that is always gnawing, letting the avaricious enjoy neither their own nor anyone else's good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-catherine-of-siena/avarice-breeds-envy-a-worm-that-is-always-gnawing-letting-the/) [St. Catherine of Siena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-catherine-of-siena/) > [“You don’t see someone flying and you begin to bite yourself for not being able to do that. You do what you can.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/you-don-t-see-someone-flying-and-you-begin-to-bite-yourself-for-not/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [Knowledge forbidden? Suspicious, reasonless. Why should their Lord Envy them that? Can it be sin to know, Can it be death? And do they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/knowledge-forbidden-suspicious-reasonless-why-should-their-lord-envy/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [“Who would have thought you had so many supporters?" she whispered. "Not mine, my love. Yours. I had not a one till you started…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michele-sinclair/who-would-have-thought-you-had-so-many-supporters-she-whispered-not/) [Michele Sinclair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michele-sinclair/) > [“Treachery is always a hairy caterpillar bred of a small butterfly called envy, no matter how lofty the principles involved.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fazil-iskander/treachery-is-always-a-hairy-caterpillar-bred-of-a-small-butterfly/) Fazil Iskander > [Yes, Clay Matthews has a long, golden, Fabio-esque flowing mane that most women would chick-slap someone for. And yes, the shiny, beautiful, dark locks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-foudy/yes-clay-matthews-has-a-long-golden-fabio-esque-flowing-mane-that/) [Julie Foudy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-foudy/) > [“I have known many true connoisseurs, with excellent tastes that range across the humanities and the culinary arts--and they never fail to have a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zadie-smith/i-have-known-many-true-connoisseurs-with-excellent-tastes-that-range/) [Zadie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zadie-smith/) [Browse all 2,111 Envy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/envy/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It is always better to imitate a successful man than to envy him.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Napoleon Hill" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/it-is-always-better-to-imitate-a-successful-man-than-to-envy-him/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Envy" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/it-is-always-better-to-imitate-a-successful-man-than-to-envy-him/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d5c/napoleon-hill-201_envy_it-is-always-better-to-imitate-a-success_2285742.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d5c/napoleon-hill-201_envy_it-is-always-better-to-imitate-a-success_2285742.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d5c/napoleon-hill-201_envy_it-is-always-better-to-imitate-a-success_2285742.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It is always better to imitate a successful man than to envy him.” — Napoleon Hill", "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": "Napoleon Hill", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It is always better to imitate...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/it-is-always-better-to-imitate-a-successful-man-than-to-envy-him/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/it-is-always-better-to-imitate-a-successful-man-than-to-envy-him/#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 } } ] } ```