"Fools may our scorn, not envy, raise. For envy is a kind of praise"

This quote by John Gay is recommending that when individuals criticize us, we ought to not be envious of them. Rather, we need to take it as a kind of appreciation. It is stating that when individuals slam us, it is due to the fact that they are jealous of our success and achievements. They are attempting to bring us down in order to make themselves feel better. We ought to not be envious of them, however instead take it as an indication of adoration. It is a pointer that we should take pride in our accomplishments and not let the viewpoints of others bring us down. We should be confident in ourselves and our capabilities, and not let the criticism of others impact us. We must take it as an indication of regard and utilize it to inspire us to continue to pursue success.