Envy of Scholars
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Question
If I see a friend succeeding in studies and I want to be like him, but on the other hand, I know that if he were less successful, I would have more. But not because I want him to be less successful, but because it requires less effort from me. Is this envy or the envy of scholars?
Answer
Hello
Wanting the other to be less than me is bad envy.
Wanting to be on a higher level is the envy of scholars.
The difference is expressed in what you mentioned: if I think it's better for him to be less, and thus I won't have to make an effort to be more than him, this is not the envy of scholars, because I prefer not to make an effort and not to learn, but just to be more than the friend.
But if I tell myself, it's good that the friend works and succeeds, so I also toil and achieve more, it shows that I am happy with the work and achievement that comes because of the competition.