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Jealousy is an inner consciousness of one's own inferiority. It is a mental cancer.
B. C. Forbes
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Interpretation

What this quote means

Jealousy stems from personal insecurities and can be damaging to one's mental state.

This quote highlights how jealousy often arises from a person's own feelings of inadequacy or inferiority, suggesting that it is not the object of jealousy that is the problem, but rather the individual's perception of themselves. By referring to jealousy as a 'mental cancer', the quote emphasizes the toxic and destructive nature of these feelings, which can erode both personal happiness and relationships over time.

Themes

JealousyInferiorityMental HealthToxic EmotionsPersonal Growth

In practice

Example use cases

During a discussion about personal growth, one might quote this to illustrate how jealousy can hinder self-improvement.

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I have known not a few men who, after reaching the summits of business success, found themselves miserable on attaining retirement age. They were so exclusively engrossed in their day to day affairs that they had no time for friend making.
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He is a wise man who seeks by every legitimate means to make all the money he can honestly, for money can do so many worthwhile things in this world, not merely for one's self but for others. But he is an unmitigated fool who imagines for a moment that it is more important to make the money than to make it honestly. One of the advantages of possessing money is that it facilitates one's independence and mental attitude. The man head over heels in debt is more slave than independent.
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Christmas is a tonic for our souls. It moves us to think of others rather than of ourselves. It directs our thoughts to giving.
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Opportunity rarely knocks on your door. Knock rather on opportunity's door if you ardently wish to enter.
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