Envy And Positive Qualities

Sometimes, when someone is not good at something, he might decide that there is something wrong with the thing that he is not good at. Some unattractive women decide that something is wrong with beauty. Some unintelligent people decide that something is wrong with intelligence. Some physically weak people decide that something is wrong with strength. Some poor people decide that something is wrong with money.

In these cases the actions are destructive. Virtues are being attacked. In fact there is nothing at all wrong with any of the things listed above. They are positive qualities and deserve respect. In most cases such people are driven by envy or hatred; and these are in no way a virtue.

Probably the biggest attack along these lines in recent times has been against beauty. Once again, there is nothing wrong with beauty; it is a virtue. What has happened instead is that people not gifted with beauty have waged an attack on beauty and on people who are beautiful; and that is in no way a rightful course of action.

Now if someone does not have a positive quality, it may very well be correct that they not be attacked for it. It is however in no way valid to attack the positive quality itself. A person who is not physically attractive should not be attacked for it. But neither should he attack those who have the quality.

So it is important to understand such things. If someone does not have a good quality, it may be rightful that they not be harassed for it; but it is also rightful that they do not attack those who have it or those who value it. Allow other people to have the positive quality and then relate to them based on their virtues and your virtues.