Helmut Schoeck on envy and egalitarianism

[H]uman societies... have persistently sought as far as possible to suppress envy.  Why?  Because in any group the envious man is inevitably a disturber of the peace, a potential saboteur, an instigator of mutiny and, fundamentally, he cannot be placated by others.  Since there can be no absolutely egalitarian society, since people cannot be made truly equal if a community is to be at all viable, the envious man is, by definition, the negation of the basis of any society.  Incurably envious people may, for a certain time, inspire and lead chiliastic, revolutionary movements, but they can never establish a stable society except by compromising their 'ideals' of equality.

The history of early human thought on the subject of social relations has never, so far as is know, shown evidence of any illusions about the nature of envy.

Most communities have developed or adapted customs and views that enable individual members of the tribe to be unequal in one way or another without being harmed by the envy of the others.

~ Helmut Schoeck, Envy, p. 33

1966

Stephen A. Smith on resentment in the WNBA towards Caitlin Clark

So when I go on national television and I bring up jealousy, envy, resentment or whatever, I'm not saying it's not justified.  If you are a WNBA player and you resent Caitlin Clark, it makes perfect sense because she's white and she's the golden girl that's considered the marketing savior for the sport.  Yes, they were talking about chartered flights before she came along and opened her mouth, but shortly after Caitlin Clark opened her mouth you had chartered flights, and you ain't had them in two decades.  She's got that kind of influence, that kind of power.

I wasn't trying to say that women - black, white and everything in between associated with the WNBA was wrong and shouldn't feel resentment after all that hard work you put in, to pound the pavement and be the great players that you are, and the great basketball ambassadors that you are.  What you've done for this sport, of course you should be resentful!  Of course you should!  What I'm saying is, "don't be blind."  There's an opening.  Exploit it.  Rather than be resentful, envious, jealous, whatever word is applicable, notice the opening.  

Caitlin Clark is bringing more attention.  When you get on the court with her and you perform and somehow, someway, you'll find a way to attach yourself to that level of magnetism that she surely has, who knows what could be out there for you?  And if suddenly the maximum salary goes from $250,000 to $450,000, and suddenly you're on chartered jets instead of commercial flights, and suddenly you're maximizing the potential of your name, image and likeness [NIL], what do you care?  At the end of the day, the rising tide lifts all boats.

[...]

It has everything to do with the industry.  If I'm an NBA player and I just won a championship and somebody who didn't win gets $50 million a year doing what I do, what do you think I'm going to think I'm worth?  See how simple it is?  It's capitalism!  It's marketability!  It's taking advantage of the moment!  That's business!  Why be resentful of any of them?...  What is wrong with people?  How do you not see that?

[...]

Just in case resentment, jealousy, envy or whatever it is is applicable - because I don't know what it is - just in case, all I'm saying is, "Hold up, ladies.  There's an opportunity here.  Go for it.  Let that girl shine.  I'm not talking about on the court: compete against her and try to take her out.  Try to beat her.  I get that part.  But I'm talking about, let that girl shine marketing wise.  Let her get her bag.  Find a way to maximize off of it and create an opening for yourself so you can get yours.  That's the American way.  Hell, that's the global way.

~ Stephen A. Smith, "Some players are just resentful of Caitlin Clark. Call it!," 13:45 mark, June 4, 2024

Thomas Sowell on envy

Envy was once considered to be one of the seven deadly sins before it became one of the most admired virtues under its new name, "social justice."

~ Thomas Sowell

Thomas Sowell on social justice

Envy plus rhetoric equals 'social justice.'

~ Thomas Sowell

Jordan Peterson on self improvement

Compare yourself to who you were yesterday, not to who someone else is today.  See, that's a game you can win.  The possibility that you can make yourself slightly better on a continual basis... I think that's something that's accessible to everyone.  I think that's equivalent to leading a virtuous life.  There's something to be said for virtue and truth.  That's another thing I've noticed about people who have been phenomenally successful, is that they really do everything they can to live a truthful life.  You get a bloody long ways by being honest.

~ Jordan Peterson, speech on YouTube, 3:30 mark, July 26, 2021

Alexis de Tocqueville on equality and envy

Equality is a slogan based on envy.

~ Alexis de Tocqueville

Sir John Denham on wealth and envy

Wealth is crime enough to him that's poor.

~ Sir John Denham, Cooper's Hill

Benjamin Harrison on taxing the rich

The indiscriminate denunciation of the rich is mischievous.... No poor man was ever made richer or happier by it. It is quite as illogical to despise a man because he is rich as because he is poor. Not what a man has, but what he is, settles his class. We can not right matters by taking from one what he has honestly acquired to bestow upon another what he has not earned.

~ Benjamin Harrison, 23rd president

Benjamin Harrison
1954-1968

Scott Mautz on negative energy

When negative people project their unhelpful vibe into the universe, it's often a cover up. They don't feel good about themselves or something in their life and so want to project that sentiment elsewhere. Confident people aren't having it, because they don't need to build themselves up by tearing other people or things down.

~ Scott Mautz, "Highly Confident People Avoid These 14 Behaviors," Inc., December 8, 2019

Kevin Duffy on capitalism vs. socialism

capitalism: serving others while serving yourself
socialism: stealing from others while serving yourself, justified by "serving the common good"

capitalism: motivated by improving your lot in life (ambition)
socialism: motivated by bringing others down (envy)

~ Kevin Duffy