"The envious man grows lean at the success of his neighbor"

This quote by Horace speaks with the devastating nature of envy. Envy is an emotion that can trigger a person to become resentful and bitter towards the success of others. The quote recommends that when an individual is jealous of their next-door neighbor's success, they end up being taken in by their own unfavorable sensations and it can have a destructive result on their own wellbeing. This can be seen in the expression "grows lean", which implies that the jealous person is not only mentally drained pipes, however likewise physically deteriorated.

The quote functions as a warning to those who are vulnerable to covet, as it suggests that it can have a damaging effect by themselves lives. It is a pointer that rather of enabling envy to take over, it is better to concentrate on one's own goals and accomplishments. By doing this, an individual can prevent the unfavorable results of envy and rather concentrate on their own successes.