Article II: On Envy

S. Th. II-II, q. 36; Q. D. de Malo, q. 10.

951. Envy is inordinate sadness concerning the good of another, esteemed as one's own evil, insofar as that good seems diminutive of one's own excellence. It is said:

1. sadness: this is concerning evil considered as joined to us; and thus envy differs from hatred, which is concerning the good of neighbor, in neighbor considered as absolutely evil;

2. concerning the good of another esteemed as one's own evil: "The object of sadness is one's own evil; but it happens that what is another's good is apprehended as one's own evil, and thus there can be sadness concerning another's good";

3. insofar as it is diminutive of one's own excellence: sadness concerning the good of another which is considered as evil can happen in four ways: a) when someone grieves concerning the good of another, because from it he fears harm will come either to himself or to other goods, and such sadness is an effect of fear; b) when someone is saddened concerning the good of another, not because the other has the good, but because we lack that good which he has, and this is zeal or emulation, which, if it is concerning honorable goods, is praiseworthy; c) when someone is saddened concerning the good of another, because he to whom the good happens is unworthy of it, and this sadness is called nemesis or indignation, which is good if it is done for a right end and with due subjection to the ordering of divine Providence; d) when someone grieves concerning the good of another, insofar as the other exceeds him in goods and this is esteemed as one's own evil, because it is diminutive of one's own glory or excellence, and this properly is envy;

4. inordinate: envy is always evil because it grieves concerning that about which one should rejoice, namely, concerning the good of neighbor.

952. The gravity of envy. - Envy is a mortal sin from its genus. For the genus of sin is taken on the part of the object. But envy according to its object is opposed to charity, because as charity rejoices concerning the good of neighbor, so envy is saddened concerning it. Nevertheless it can be venial not only from indeliberation or imperfection of the act, but also from lightness of matter, if someone envies concerning a small good of neighbor, for example, because he wins in a game, perhaps by running with him, or by doing something of this kind.

953. Observation. - The sin of envy is accustomed to be found especially among those who are in some way equals, for example, of the same family, or at least approximate in something, for example, in condition, knowledge, virtue, etc.: for such persons wish mutually to be equaled or preferred. It is chiefly concerning those goods in which there is glory, and in which men love to be honored and to be held in esteem, especially concerning wisdom and happiness. Whence it arises from vainglory, although it itself is also a capital sin, as was said in the treatise on Sins, n. 508.