“Jealousy is both reasonable and belongs to reasonable men, while envy is base and belongs to the base, for the one makes himself get good things by jealousy, while the other does not allow his neighbour to have them through envy.”
- 384 BC – 322 BC
- Originating from Macedonia in ancient Greece
- Philosopher and scientist, founder of the Lyceum academy
- A student of Plato, he constructed systematic knowledge in logic, biology, politics, ethics, etc., and had a major impact on the development of Western thought and science
Quote
“Jealousy is both reasonable and belongs to reasonable men, while envy is base and belongs to the base, for the one makes himself get good things by jealousy, while the other does not allow his neighbour to have them through envy.”
Explanation
In this quote, Aristotle distinguishes between jealousy and envy, portraying them as two different emotional responses to the success or well-being of others. He suggests that jealousy can be a reasonable emotion, especially when it drives individuals to improve themselves or seek their own success. In this sense, jealousy can be motivational, pushing one to strive for what others have achieved. On the other hand, envy is described as a base emotion, rooted in malice or resentment, where the envious person does not want others to have what they do, regardless of whether they deserve it or not. Envy, therefore, is more destructive, as it focuses on preventing others from experiencing good things, rather than encouraging self-improvement.
This distinction remains highly relevant in the modern world, particularly in the context of competition and personal growth. In many ways, jealousy can serve as a catalyst for ambition. For example, seeing a colleague succeed might inspire someone to work harder and achieve their own success. However, when jealousy turns into envy, it shifts from self-motivation to a desire to undermine others. Social media often magnifies these emotions, where envy can lead to feelings of inadequacy or resentment towards others’ seemingly perfect lives, rather than encouraging positive change within oneself.
For instance, someone who is jealous of a friend’s accomplishments might use that feeling to set new goals and work towards similar achievements. In contrast, someone who is envious may feel bitter, wishing to see the friend’s success diminished rather than striving for personal growth. Aristotle’s insight encourages us to reflect on how we deal with the success of others—whether we use it to motivate ourselves toward improvement or allow it to foster negative feelings that prevent both our growth and the happiness of those around us.
