Invidia gloriae comes
“Envy is the companion of fame.”
Cornelius Nepos, Chabrias 3.3
What does “Invidia gloriae comes” mean?
Invidia gloriae comes translates as “Envy is the companion of fame.”
Success attracts jealousy. The more you achieve, the more people will resent you.
“Invidia gloriae comes” word by word
| Latin | English | Grammar |
|---|---|---|
| Invidia | envy | nominative singular (feminine) of invidia, “envy, jealousy”; the subject of the sentence |
| gloriae | of fame | genitive singular (feminine) of gloria, “glory, fame”; shows whose companion envy is |
| comes | companion | nominative singular of comes, “companion, comrade”; a noun that can be masculine or feminine; it completes the sentence after an understood “is” |
How to pronounce “Invidia gloriae comes”
The main differences are the v (w in Classical, v in Church Latin) and the ending -ae (eye or eh). Stress falls on the second syllable of invidia, the first of gloriae and the first of comes. Latin needs no verb here; “is” is understood.
The story behind it
Word for word the line says “envy, the companion of glory”. Latin often leaves out the verb “to be” in short sayings, so English adds “is”.
It comes from Cornelius Nepos, a Roman biographer of the first century BC, who wrote short lives of famous Greeks and others. In his life of the Athenian general Chabrias he uses the line to explain why Chabrias preferred to live abroad rather than at home, where his fame made him the target of envy.
Nepos presents it as a general observation about public life, and that is how it has lived on: as a saying about the price of success and the resentment that rising achievement tends to stir up.
How to use “Invidia gloriae comes”
A fitting motto or caption for someone who has met jealousy after success, or a line for an essay on fame, ambition or public life. It also works as a short, dry tattoo for anyone who sees envy as proof of achievement.
- Latin
- Invidia gloriae comes
- English
- Envy is the companion of fame.
- Source
- Cornelius Nepos, Chabrias 3.3
- Era
- Classical
- Theme
- Fame
Common mistakes
- The word order is not the English one. Invidia is the subject and gloriae is “of fame”, so it does not mean “fame is the companion of envy”.
- Do not read comes as the verb “comes”. It is a noun, “companion”, and the sentence has no verb at all.
- Gloria is closer to “fame, renown, glory” than to “glory” in a religious sense; do not mix it up with the Christian use of the word.
- Misspelling the first word as “invidea” or “envidia” gives something that is not Latin; the correct form is invidia.
Questions about “Invidia gloriae comes”
What does “Invidia gloriae comes” mean literally?
“Envy, companion of glory.” English adds the verb: “Envy is the companion of fame.” Latin leaves “is” understood.
Who said “Invidia gloriae comes”?
It comes from the Roman biographer Cornelius Nepos, in his life of the Athenian general Chabrias (3.3).
How do you pronounce “Invidia gloriae comes”?
Classical: in-WID-ee-ah GLOH-ree-eye KOH-mace. Church Latin: in-VEE-dee-ah GLOH-ree-eh KOH-mes.
Is “Invidia gloriae comes” correct Latin for a tattoo?
Yes, it is the original wording from Nepos and grammatically sound. Keep it exactly as written, since it has no verb and changing endings would alter the meaning.
More to explore
Translation and grammar checked by Latin Quoter · last reviewed November 2026
One Latin line. Every Monday.
A quote, its translation and the story behind it, free in your inbox.