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Greatness inspires envy, envy engenders spite, spite spawns lies.
J. K. Rowling
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Interpretation

What this quote means

Great achievements can provoke jealousy, which can lead to negative actions such as dishonesty.

This quote by J.K. Rowling highlights the negative emotional cycle that can occur when someone achieves greatness. It suggests that rather than celebrating someone's success, people may feel envious, which can then turn into spiteful feelings that lead them to spread lies about that individual. It serves as a cautionary reminder of the dark side of human emotions in relation to success.

Themes

GreatnessEnvySpiteLiesJealousy

In practice

Example use cases

During a motivational speech about the pitfalls of success.

More from J. K. Rowling

By all means continue destroying my possessions. I daresay I have too many.
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Depression isn't just being a bit sad. It's feeling nothing. It's not wanting to be alive anymore.
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I tell you, that dragon's the most horrible animal I've ever met, but the way Hagrid goes on about it, you'd think it was a fluffy little bunny rabbit.
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Imagine losing fingernails, Harry! That really puts our sufferings into perspective, doesn't it?
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The consequences of our actions are always so complicated, so diverse, that predicting the future is a very difficult business indeed.
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