Potter bears a grudge against potter, and craftsman against craftsman, and beggar is envious of beggar, and bard of bard.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Hesiod notes that people in the same profession or status often envy each other.
- In plain terms
- Artisans and the poor envy others who are like them.
- What can you take from it?
- People often compete with or envy those closest to them.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Why do we envy peers?
- How does envy affect community?
Another view
The quote generalizes human behavior across all classes and contexts.
More from Hesiod
There was not after all a single kind of strife, but on earth there are two kinds: one of them a man might praise when he recognized her, but the other is blam…
Permalink to quote #3 Fools, they do not even know how much more is the half than the whole.
Permalink to quote #5 Love, who is most beautiful among the immortal gods, the melter of limbs, overwhelms in their hearts the intelligence and wise counsel of all gods and all men.
Permalink to quote #2
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