proverb · Words worth keeping
Envy goes beyond avarice.
Envy goes beyond avarice.
Understand the thought
Meaning in plain English
Wanting to deny another person a benefit can be more destructive than wanting an advantage for yourself. Notice when comparison turns a desire into resentment.
Example
A club member votes against an affordable improvement simply because a rival suggested it. They reconsider whether the decision serves the club or only the rivalry.
Deeper explanation and when to use it
The proverb contrasts two motives: wanting to possess and wanting another not to possess. Envy can push a person towards a choice that damages someone else even when it brings no useful gain. A helpful response asks what need lies beneath the comparison and what action would actually improve the situation. The saying’s ranking is rhetorical, not a measured psychological law. Both motives can cause harm; the contrast makes the specifically spiteful direction of envy easier to recognise.
When to use it
Use it when resentment is influencing a choice that benefits no one.
Keep in mind
A fair objection to inequality is not automatically envy. Examine the reason and effects before applying that label.
An interpretation of the words, not a claim about their earliest origin.
Attribution & collection notes
- Author or tradition
- Traditional (French-language collection)
Attribution: traditional - Country attributed
- Not established
A country attribution does not establish the earliest origin. - Historical period
- Date unknown