--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Envy, slothful vice, Never makes its way…" description: "\"Envy, slothful vice, Never makes its way in lofty characters, But, like the skulking viper, creeps and crawls Close to the ground.\" — Ovid" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e19/ovid-276_character_envy-slothful-vice-never-makes-its-way-i_2758844.png" --- # Envy, slothful vice, Never makes its way in lofty… ![“Envy, slothful vice, Never makes its way in lofty characters, But, like the skulking viper, creeps and crawls Close to the ground.” quote by Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e19/ovid-276_character_envy-slothful-vice-never-makes-its-way-i_2758844.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e19/ovid-276_character_envy-slothful-vice-never-makes-its-way-i_2758844.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e19/ovid-276_character_envy-slothful-vice-never-makes-its-way-i_2758844.png) > “Envy, slothful vice, Never makes its way in lofty characters, But, like the skulking viper, creeps and crawls Close to the ground.” [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Envy and laziness rarely affect noble characters, but like a hidden snake, they creep close to the ground, threatening to corrupt. **In simple terms:** Vice creeps in low places. Key Takeaway Beware subtle vices that can undermine virtue. Themes vice corruption humility Mood cautionary reflective Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - politics - personal relationships - leadership - education Key Concepts moral philosophy human frailty Questions to Reflect On - What small vices might you be overlooking? - How can you guard against hidden corruption? A Different Perspective Virtue can be eroded by unnoticed habits. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Creeps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creeps/) [Creeps Crawls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creeps-crawls-3153688/) [Envy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/envy/) [Envy Slothful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/envy-slothful-3153686/) [Lofty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lofty/) [Skulking Viper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/skulking-viper-3153687/) [Slothful Vice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slothful-vice-3153689/) [Vices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vices/) [Viper Creeps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/viper-creeps-3153685/) [Vipers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vipers/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) ## Related quotes > [A second wife is hateful to the children of the first; a viper is not more hateful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euripides/a-second-wife-is-hateful-to-the-children-of-the-first-a-viper-is-not/) [Euripides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euripides/) > [Viper: "The dark wizard and I had a mild disagreement." Dante: "What sort of disagreement?" Viper: "I thought he should be dead and he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-ivy/viper-the-dark-wizard-and-i-had-a-mild-disagreement-dante-what-sort/) [Alexandra Ivy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-ivy/) > [“They could, but they wouldn’t make it far. Gators,” Marcus stated. “There’re also some vipers in there, and a few other traps for those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eve-langlais/they-could-but-they-wouldn-t-make-it-far-gators-marcus-stated-there/) [Eve Langlais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eve-langlais/) > [Some people say that you should go to all the parties, to the nightclubs, the Viper Room, and make contacts. 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Ambition and jealousy are at the heart of all betrayals.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/beware-the-viper-in-your-closet-isn-t-that-another-thing-you-re/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [Tonight, the new Viper, which is the American equivalent of a sportscar in the same way, I guess, that George Bush is the equivalent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-clarkson/tonight-the-new-viper-which-is-the-american-equivalent-of-a-sportscar/) [Jeremy Clarkson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-clarkson/) > [The paranoid one's wards are still active. They keep me several feet from the building." 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It points me to the man who once in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-hitler/y-feelings-as-a-christian-points-me-to-my-lord-and-savior-as-a/) [Adolf Hitler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-hitler/) > [You know, the streets are filled with vipers Who've lost all ray of hope You know, it ain't even safe no more In the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dylan/you-know-the-streets-are-filled-with-vipers-who-ve-lost-all-ray-of/) [Bob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dylan/) > [Is this the generation of love? Hot blood, hot thoughts and hot deeds? Why, they are vipers. Is love a generation of vipers?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/is-this-the-generation-of-love-hot-blood-hot-thoughts-and-hot-deeds/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [I do not believe in loving enemies; I have pretty hard work to love my friends. Neither do I believe in revenge. No man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/i-do-not-believe-in-loving-enemies-i-have-pretty-hard-work-to-love-my/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [The scream of the twelve-inch shrapnel is more penetrating than the hiss from a thousand Jewish newspaper vipers. Therefore let them go on with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-hitler/the-scream-of-the-twelve-inch-shrapnel-is-more-penetrating-than-the/) [Adolf Hitler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-hitler/) ## More by Ovid > [Every woman thinks herself attractive; even the plainest is satisfied with the charms she deems that she possesses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/every-woman-thinks-herself-attractive-even-the-plainest-is-satisfied/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [Suppressed grief suffocates, it rages within the breast, and is forced to multiply its strength.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/suppressed-grief-suffocates-it-rages-within-the-breast-and-is-forced/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [Honesty, by evil fortune tried, Finds in adversity the seed of praise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/honesty-by-evil-fortune-tried-finds-in-adversity-the-seed-of-praise/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [It is some alleviation to ills we cannot cure to speak of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/it-is-some-alleviation-to-ills-we-cannot-cure-to-speak-of-them/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [ A mind conscious of right laughs at the falsehoods of rumour. \[Lat., Conscia mens recti famae mendacia risit.\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/a-mind-conscious-of-right-laughs-at-the-falsehoods-of-rumour-lat/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [Time is generally the best doctor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/time-is-generally-the-best-doctor/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [It is convenient that there be gods, and, as it is convenient, let us believe there are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/it-is-convenient-that-there-be-gods-and-as-it-is-convenient-let-us/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [I hate a woman who offers herself because she ought to do so, and cold and dry thinks of her sewing when making love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/i-hate-a-woman-who-offers-herself-because-she-ought-to-do-so-and-cold/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [The sea's vast depths lie open to the fish; Wherever the breezes blow the bird may fly; So to the brave man every land's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/the-sea-s-vast-depths-lie-open-to-the-fish-wherever-the-breezes-blow/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [Rare is the virtue that's not ruled by Fortune, That stands unshaken even when Fortune flees.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/rare-is-the-virtue-that-s-not-ruled-by-fortune-that-stands-unshaken/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [Thus all things altered. Nothing dies. And here and there the unbodied spirit flies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/thus-all-things-altered-nothing-dies-and-here-and-there-the-unbodied/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [How little is the promise of the child fulfilled in the man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/how-little-is-the-promise-of-the-child-fulfilled-in-the-man/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [Judgement of beauty can err, what with the wine and the dark.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/judgement-of-beauty-can-err-what-with-the-wine-and-the-dark/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [Leave war to others; 'tis Protesilaus' part of love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/leave-war-to-others-tis-protesilaus-part-of-love/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [Remove but the temptations of leisure, and the bow of Cupid will lose its effect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/remove-but-the-temptations-of-leisure-and-the-bow-of-cupid-will-lose/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) [Explore all 771 Ovid quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) ## 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. 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