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Envy Quote by Tacitus

“When men are full of envy they disparage everything, whether it be good or bad.” quote by Tacitus
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“When men are full of envy they disparage everything, whether it be good or bad.”

Tacitus

About This Quote

Source Historical Writing: Annals, 1st century AD

Envy drives people to belittle all things, good or bad.

In simple terms: Envy makes you criticize everything.

Key Takeaway

Guard against envy’s bias.

Themes

envy criticism human flaw

Mood

cautionary analytical

Type

historical philosophical

When to use this quote

  • political discourse
  • personal relationships
  • media commentary

Key Concepts

ethics psychology

Questions to Reflect On

  • When have you criticized out of envy?
  • Can envy ever motivate improvement?
A Different Perspective

Envy can be a protective self‑esteem tool.

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