---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: But envy is negative and outer-directed…"
description: "\"“But envy is negative and outer-directed, not driven from within, and so I knew that it wouldn’t carry us very far down the path to true renewal.”\" — S..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/38d/satya-nadella-2082_envy_but-envy-is-negative-and-outer-directed_2456174.png"
---

#  But envy is negative and outer-directed, not driven from…

![“But envy is negative and outer-directed, not driven from within, and so I knew that it wouldn’t carry us very far down the path to true renewal.” quote by Satya Nadella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/38d/satya-nadella-2082_envy_but-envy-is-negative-and-outer-directed_2456174.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/38d/satya-nadella-2082_envy_but-envy-is-negative-and-outer-directed_2456174.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/38d/satya-nadella-2082_envy_but-envy-is-negative-and-outer-directed_2456174.png)

> ““But envy is negative and outer-directed, not driven from within, and so I knew that it wouldn’t carry us very far down the path to true renewal.””

[Satya Nadella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/satya-nadella/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Envy is outward-focused and hampers true renewal; internal motivation is needed for lasting change.

**In simple terms:** Envy looks outward and hinders growth; internal drive fuels renewal.

Key Takeaway

Cultivate internal motivation.

Themes

envy renewal motivation

Mood

thoughtful inspirational null

Type

philosophical advice

When to use this quote

- career advancement
- self-improvement
- team leadership
- organizational change

Key Concepts

psychology personal development

Questions to Reflect On

- What internal goals drive your renewal?
- How can you transform envy into motivation?

A Different Perspective

External envy may sometimes inspire change.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Envy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/envy/) [Jealousy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jealousy/)

## Related quotes

> [ None of the Christian religions do \[interest me\]. They're all outer-directed. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/none-of-the-christian-religions-do-interest-me-they-re-all-outer/)

[George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/)

> [Adolescents swing from euphoric self-confidence and a kind of narcissistic strength in which they feel invulnerable and even immortal, to despair, self-emptiness, self-deprecation. At…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terri-e-apter/adolescents-swing-from-euphoric-self-confidence-and-a-kind-of/)

[Terri E Apter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terri-e-apter/)

> [Of all hostile feelings, envy is perhaps the hardest to be subdued, because hardly any one owns it even to himself, but looks out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-whately/of-all-hostile-feelings-envy-is-perhaps-the-hardest-to-be-subdued/)

[Richard Whately](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-whately/)

> [On the way there is no harder pass than this: fortunate is he who does not carry envy as a companion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/on-the-way-there-is-no-harder-pass-than-this-fortunate-is-he-who-does/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [True success comes to those who are inspired by Faith rather than envy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-mark/true-success-comes-to-those-who-are-inspired-by-faith-rather-than-envy/)

[Terry Mark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-mark/)

> [Every time that I think of the crucifixion of Christ, I commit the sin of envy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-weil/every-time-that-i-think-of-the-crucifixion-of-christ-i-commit-the-sin/)

[Simone Weil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-weil/)

> [Jealousy &amp; envy ,is what makes a hoe like u! hate a bad bitch like me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/jealousy-envy-is-what-makes-a-hoe-like-u-hate-a-bad-bitch-like-me/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“And often with our love we want merely to overleap envy. And often we attack and make ourselves enemies, to conceal that we are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/and-often-with-our-love-we-want-merely-to-overleap-envy-and-often-we/)

[Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/)

> [“Don't envy what people have, emulate what they did to have it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-fargo/don-t-envy-what-people-have-emulate-what-they-did-to-have-it/)

[Tim Fargo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-fargo/)

> [What good is envy? It’s the one sin you can’t have any fun at.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/what-good-is-envy-it-s-the-one-sin-you-can-t-have-any-fun-at/)

[Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/)

> [“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/)

> [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/)

> [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/)

> [“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/)

> [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/)

## More by Satya Nadella

> [Microsoft is the productivity and platform company for the mobile-first and cloud-first world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/satya-nadella/microsoft-is-the-productivity-and-platform-company-for-the-mobile/)

[Satya Nadella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/satya-nadella/)

> [“The bigger a company, the more responsibility its leader has to think about the world, its citizens and their long term opportunities.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/satya-nadella/the-bigger-a-company-the-more-responsibility-its-leader-has-to-think/)

[Satya Nadella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/satya-nadella/)

> [If you are going to have a risk-taking culture, you can't really look at every failure as a failure, you've got to be able…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/satya-nadella/if-you-are-going-to-have-a-risk-taking-culture-you-can-t-really-look/)

[Satya Nadella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/satya-nadella/)

> [“anyone who feels like an outsider can be successful, but it requires both an enlightened management and a dedicated employee.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/satya-nadella/anyone-who-feels-like-an-outsider-can-be-successful-but-it-requires/)

[Satya Nadella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/satya-nadella/)

> [I think the combination of graduate education in a field like Computer Science and the opportunity to apply this in a work environment like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/satya-nadella/i-think-the-combination-of-graduate-education-in-a-field-like/)

[Satya Nadella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/satya-nadella/)

> [There are always going to be people who are experts in security or end-user devices or collaboration or databases. That's not going to go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/satya-nadella/there-are-always-going-to-be-people-who-are-experts-in-security-or/)

[Satya Nadella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/satya-nadella/)

> [We are really excited about being stewards to the community that is Minecraft.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/satya-nadella/we-are-really-excited-about-being-stewards-to-the-community-that-is/)

[Satya Nadella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/satya-nadella/)

> [Businesses and users are going to use technology only if they can trust it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/satya-nadella/businesses-and-users-are-going-to-use-technology-only-if-they-can/)

[Satya Nadella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/satya-nadella/)

> [Without a doubt, I wholeheartedly support programs at Microsoft and in the industry that bring more women into technology and close the pay gap.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/satya-nadella/without-a-doubt-i-wholeheartedly-support-programs-at-microsoft-and-in/)

[Satya Nadella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/satya-nadella/)

> [In the post-Snowden world, you need to enable others to build their own cloud and have mobility of applications. That’s both because of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/satya-nadella/in-the-post-snowden-world-you-need-to-enable-others-to-build-their/)

[Satya Nadella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/satya-nadella/)

> [I believe men and women should get equal pay for equal work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/satya-nadella/i-believe-men-and-women-should-get-equal-pay-for-equal-work/)

[Satya Nadella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/satya-nadella/)

> [When we think about even the PC market and what is required in the student as well as in the consumer market, we want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/satya-nadella/when-we-think-about-even-the-pc-market-and-what-is-required-in-the/)

[Satya Nadella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/satya-nadella/)

> [“Success can cause people to unlearn the habits that made them successful in the first place.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/satya-nadella/success-can-cause-people-to-unlearn-the-habits-that-made-them/)

[Satya Nadella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/satya-nadella/)

> [The opportunity ahead for Microsoft is vast, but to seize it, we must focus clearly, move faster and continue to transform. A big part…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/satya-nadella/the-opportunity-ahead-for-microsoft-is-vast-but-to-seize-it-we-must/)

[Satya Nadella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/satya-nadella/)

> [“the importance of putting your team first, ahead of your personal statistics and recognition.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/satya-nadella/the-importance-of-putting-your-team-first-ahead-of-your-personal/)

[Satya Nadella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/satya-nadella/)

[Explore all 185 Satya Nadella quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/satya-nadella/)

## 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": "“But envy is negative and outer-directed, not driven from within, and so I knew that it wouldn’t carry us very far down the path to true renewal.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Satya Nadella"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/satya-nadella/but-envy-is-negative-and-outer-directed-not-driven-from-within-and-so/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Envy"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/satya-nadella/but-envy-is-negative-and-outer-directed-not-driven-from-within-and-so/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/38d/satya-nadella-2082_envy_but-envy-is-negative-and-outer-directed_2456174.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/38d/satya-nadella-2082_envy_but-envy-is-negative-and-outer-directed_2456174.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/38d/satya-nadella-2082_envy_but-envy-is-negative-and-outer-directed_2456174.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“But envy is negative and outer-directed, not driven from within, and so I knew that it wouldn’t carry us…” — Satya Nadella",
                "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": "Satya Nadella",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/satya-nadella/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“But envy is negative and outer-directed,...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/satya-nadella/but-envy-is-negative-and-outer-directed-not-driven-from-within-and-so/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/satya-nadella/but-envy-is-negative-and-outer-directed-not-driven-from-within-and-so/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
