No-one is completely unhappy at the failure of his best friend.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- This observation notes that people often feel a secret sense of satisfaction when their closest friend fails.
- In plain terms
- People are happy when their best friend fails.
- What can you take from it?
- Jealousy can hide in close friendships.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Do you ever feel happy for friends failures?
- Why do we envy those close to us?
Another view
It overgeneralizes human emotions across all friendships.
More from Groucho Marx
[Variant:] 'Please accept my resignation. I don't care to belong to any club that will have me as a member'.
Permalink to quote #8 Here's to our wives and girlfriends... may they never meet!
Permalink to quote #10 I sent the club a wire stating, 'PLEASE ACCEPT MY RESIGNATION. I DON'T WANT TO BELONG TO ANY CLUB THAT WILL ACCEPT PEOPLE LIKE ME AS A MEMBER'.
Permalink to quote #7
Related quotes
All men naturally hate one another; there could not be four friends in the world. (101)
Blaise PascalBlaise Pascal quote #7 Jealousy does not wait for reasons.
Mahatma GandhiMahatma Gandhi quote #44 Whenever a friend succeeds, a little something in me dies.
Gore VidalGore Vidal quote #44