Wisdom Booth
Angeremotion

Envy

Envy refers to a negative emotion across spiritual traditions. Many traditions converge on its destructive nature. They diverge in prescribed remedies and underlying causes.

650 quotes

Across traditions

Related topics

Quotes

But those who find fault with this and do not follow My teaching — know them to be confused about all knowledge, deluded, and utterly lost.
Krishna
HinduTeachingIgnoranceDelusionSanskrit
Bhagavad Gita 3.32
He is completely emancipated who does not covet others' belongings, never disregards anyone, transcends all dualities, and has a soul free from attachment.
Vyasa
HinduTeachingGreedSoulSanskrit
Mahabharata, p. 5507
One who is content with whatever they receive without effort, free from dualities, without envy, and balanced in success and failure, remains unbound even while acting.
Lord Krishna
HinduTeachingContentmentHarmony
Practice of Karma Yoga, p. 122-123
Yogic practices alone are not enough; purification of the heart is essential. Self-reflection is necessary to eliminate faults and bad habits. Correct your flaws, such as selfishness, pride, jealousy, and hatred. Cultivate your heart by sharing with others and engaging in selfless service, which will lead to a pure mind.
Swami Sivananda
HinduTeachingAltruismContentment
Bliss Divine, p. 279
Pride, whether based on caste, state, language, or the strength of one's body, mind, or wealth, always gives rise to feelings of hatred and jealousy.
Baba Hardev Singh Ji
UniversalTeachingEgoMind
Gurdev Hardev Part 2, p. 72
Envy, pride, delusion, arrogance, and thievery have no skill or trickery here.
Tulsidas
HinduTeachingEgoPrideSanskrit
Ramcharitmanas — Uttar Kand Part 1 (verses 949–1022), p. 40
Lust, anger, vanity, and covetousness are all paths leading to hell. Abjuring these, adore the Hero of Raghu's line, whom saints worship.
Tulsidas
HinduTeachingDevotionGreedSanskrit
Ramcharitmanas — Sundar Kand (verses 745–804), p. 39
I tell you, dear sage, the qualities of saints that make them master over me. They have mastered the six passions (lust, anger, greed, infatuation, pride, and jealousy), are sinless, disinterested, firm, detached, pure (inside and out), full of bliss, wise, desireless, moderate in their diet, truthful, inspired, knowledgeable, and united with God. They are cautious, honor others, free from pride, strong-willed, and well-versed in the path of righteousness.
Rama
HinduTeachingEgoGreedSanskrit
Ramcharitmanas — Aranya Kand (verses 647–710), p. 62
Never surrender to passion, anger, jealousy, arrogance, or infatuation, not even in your dreams. Abandon all negative feelings and serve them with your mind, words, and actions.
Tulsidas
HinduTeachingEgoHelpfulnessSanskrit
Ramcharitmanas — Ayodhya Kand Part 2 (verses 402–480), p. 17
The earth became a cow of plenty, yielding all one's coveted products. The people were happy and free from all sorrows, and both men and women were good-looking and virtuous.
Tulsidas
HinduTeachingGreedGriefSanskrit
Ramcharitmanas — Bal Kand Part 2 (verses 98–165), p. 59
The wicked burn with jealousy when they hear of others' welfare, whether they are friends, enemies, or neutral.
Tulsidas
HinduTeachingEnvyEvilSanskrit
Ramcharitmanas — Bal Kand Part 1 (verses 1–97), p. 9
Whoever knows God in this world, as it were, lives in a paradise, the vastness of which is like the vastness of the heavens and the earth. This paradise's fruits can be plucked without any envy, and its size is not reduced by the number of people occupying it.
Al-Ghazali
SufiTeachingKnowledgeEnvyArabic
Alchemy of Happiness (Al-Ghazali — scripture edition), p. 44
The goal of moral discipline is to purify the heart from the corrosion of passion and resentment, until it reflects the light of God like a clear mirror.
Al-Ghazali
SufiTeachingCleansing HeartsDivine LightArabic
Alchemy of Happiness (Al-Ghazali — scripture edition), p. 9
Those who do not covet what belongs to others, keep away from other people's wives, and enjoy only what they have earned through righteous means, will succeed in ascending to heaven.
Vyasa
HinduTeachingGreedRighteousnessSanskrit
Mahabharata, p. 5370
Men should not have any affection for them, nor should they be jealous on their account. Considering only virtue, men should interact with them without enthusiasm or attachment, but with reluctance and detachment.
Vyasa
HinduTeachingLoveMoralitySanskrit
Mahabharata, p. 5039
I bow to those who strive to obtain the grace of their preceptors, labor to acquire knowledge of the Vedas, are firm in their vows, wait with dutiful obedience upon their preceptors and seniors, and are free from malice and envy.
Vyasa
HinduTeachingAttainmentGraceSanskrit
Mahabharata, p. 5003
The Brahmana gives to all creatures what they prize or covet and protects what they already have.
Vyasa
HinduTeachingGreedEnvySanskrit
Mahabharata, p. 4996
The king was very intelligent, eloquent, and free from envy. He had mastered his passions, had a righteous soul, was compassionate, courageous, and humble.
Vyasa
HinduTeachingGuruHumilitySanskrit
Mahabharata, p. 4850
One should control the rising impulses of words, mind, anger, envy, hunger, and lust.
Vyasa
HinduTeachingLustMindSanskrit
Mahabharata, p. 4494
Expectation gives birth to wickedness. Anger is considered a child of envy. Greed is the child of deceit. However, ingratitude is barren and has no offspring.
Vyasa
HinduTeachingGreedHopeSanskrit
Mahabharata, p. 4469