By all means continue destroying my possessions. I daresay I have too many.
J. K. RowlingRead
Greatness inspires envy, envy engenders spite, spite spawns lies.
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
All quotes →Where are you heading, if you’ve got the choice?” James lifted an invisible sword. “‘Gryffindor, where dwell the brave at heart!’ Like my dad.” Snape made a small, disparaging noise. James turned on him. “Got a problem with that?” “No,” said Snape, though his slight sneer said otherwise. “If you’d rather be brawny than brainy —” “Where’re you hoping to go, seeing as you’re neither?” interjected Sirius.
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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.
J. K. RowlingRead
Imagine losing fingernails, Harry! That really puts our sufferings into perspective, doesn't it?
J. K. RowlingRead
The consequences of our actions are always so complicated, so diverse, that predicting the future is a very difficult business indeed.
J. K. RowlingRead
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