The-Conquest-of-Happiness-by-Bertrand-Russell

therefore, get away from envy by means of success
alone, for there will always be in history or legend
some person even more successful than you are.
You can get away from envy by enjoying the
pleasures that come your way, by doing the work
that you have to do, and by avoiding comparisons
with those whom you imagine, perhaps quite
falsely, to be more fortunate than yourself.
Unnecessary modesty has a great deal to do with
envy. Modesty is considered a virtue, but for my
part I am very doubtful whether, in its more
extreme forms, it deserves to be so regarded.
Modest people need a great deal of reassuring, and
often do not dare to attempt tasks which they are
quite capable of performing. Modest people
believe themselves to be outshone by those with
whom they habitually associate. They are therefore
particularly prone to envy, and, through envy, to
unhappiness and ill will.
For my part, I think there is much to be said for
bringing up a boy to think himself a fine fellow. I