Better be envied than pitied.
Meaning: Living with others' jealousy over your success beats enduring their sympathy for your failure.
Origin: Recorded in A Dictionary of English Proverbs and Proverbial Phrases, an undated collection published in London by Whittaker & Co. around 1880 and credited to Thomas Preston. Its earlier history hasn't been traced.
Equivalents in French, Spanish, German, and Italian
- French: Mieux vaut faire envie que pitié (literally: Better be envied than pitied)
- Spanish: Más vale envidia que lástima (literally: Envy is worth more than pity)
- German: Lieber beneidet als bemitleidet (literally: Rather envied than pitied)
- Italian: È meglio invidia che pietà (literally: Better be envied than pitied)
More proverbs about Wisdom
- Example teaches more than precept. — Demonstrating virtue through action proves far more persuasive than merely instructing ot…
- Exchange is no robbery. — A fair trade harms no one because both parties voluntarily accept the terms.
- Her face was her fortune. — Beauty alone sustained her livelihood and social position, making her appearance her prim…
- A false report rides post. — Lies spread faster than truth because people eagerly share scandal without verifying fact…
- Fancy goes a long way. — Appearing impressive through style and presentation can achieve considerable success, eve…
- Fast bind, fast find. — Securing something firmly makes retrieving it later swift and effortless.
From our idioms
- Rester sur le carreau — To be knocked out of the running; to be left for dead.
- Rouler carrosse — To live in grand style.
- Donner carte blanche — To grant someone complete freedom to act as they see fit.