The more corrupt the state, the more numerous the laws.
TacitusRead
When men are full of envy they disparage everything, whether it be good or bad.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Envy breeds negativity and leads people to criticize everything, regardless of its worth.
This quote by Tacitus highlights how envy can distort perceptions and lead individuals to speak ill of others or dismiss their accomplishments. Envy not only clouds one's judgment but also fosters a toxic environment where even positivity is met with skepticism, showing that a heart filled with envy is incapable of recognizing value in what others achieve.
Themes
EnvyNegativityCriticismPerceptionJudgment
In practice
Example use cases
Using this quote in a discussion about the destructive nature of envy in workplace dynamics.
More from Tacitus
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Great empires are not maintained by timidity.
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Things are not to be judged good or bad merely because the public think so.
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So obscure are the greatest events, as some take for granted any hearsay, whatever its source, others turn truth into falsehood, and both errors find encouragement with posterity.
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The brave and bold persist even against fortune; the timid and cowardly rush to despair though fear alone.
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