Quote of the day by Arnold Schwarzenegger: ‘You have to remember something: Everybody pities the weak; jealousy…’ – Seven time Mr. Olympia turned actor on ambition, success and standing out

A quote about weakness, envy and ambition becomes especially striking when attached to a man whose life was built around turning himself into something extraordinary. Arnold Schwarzenegger's career has crossed bodybuilding, Hollywood and politics, but the common thread has been his relentless belief in setting an ambitious goal and pursuing it.

Arnold Schwarzenegger was born on July 30, 1947, in Thal, Austria. As a teenager, he became fascinated with bodybuilding and began training with the ambition of building a career in the United States.

He moved to America in 1968 and went on to become one of the most recognisable figures in competitive bodybuilding. Schwarzenegger won the Mr. Olympia title seven times, establishing himself as one of the sport's defining figures before turning his attention toward acting.


His transition to Hollywood was initially far from straightforward. His accent, enormous physique and unusual name were all considered obstacles, but films including Conan the Barbarian and The Terminator transformed him into an international movie star.

His career later took another unexpected turn. Schwarzenegger entered politics and served as governor of California from 2003 to 2011. His public life has therefore extended far beyond entertainment, encompassing sport, business, environmental advocacy and government.

Quote of the day by Arnold Schwarzenegger

“You have to remember something: Everybody pities the weak; jealousy you have to earn.”

The quotation presents a deliberately provocative contrast between pity and envy.

The first half suggests that weakness may attract sympathy because people instinctively recognise vulnerability. But Schwarzenegger then makes a sharper point about jealousy: admiration and envy, in this framing, tend to appear when someone has achieved something that others want for themselves.

The underlying message is about achievement as a visible form of distinction. If nobody notices what you have accomplished, there may be little reason for anyone to compare themselves with you. Success, by contrast, can make differences in status, wealth, recognition, physical ability or influence much more visible.

What does Schwarzenegger mean by “jealousy you have to earn”?

The word “earn” is what gives the quote its bite. Schwarzenegger is not literally suggesting that jealousy is a desirable reward. Instead, the line can be understood as a provocative way of saying that becoming sufficiently successful or distinctive to attract envy generally requires effort, persistence and achievement.

That interpretation fits the broader narrative of his own career. He began with bodybuilding, pursued an unconventional ambition to move from Austria to America, became a world champion, entered Hollywood and eventually moved into elected office.

The quote therefore frames envy as a byproduct of standing out, rather than as the objective itself.

More quotes by Arnold Schwarzenegger

Schwarzenegger has repeatedly spoken about ambition, discipline and perseverance. Among his widely circulated quotations are:

“The worst thing I can be is the same as everybody else. I hate that.”

“The mind is the limit. As long as the mind can envision the fact that you can do something, you can do it.”

“You have to build the ultimate physical machine, but you also have to build the ultimate mind.”

“Strength does not come from winning. Your struggles develop your strengths.”

“If my life was a movie, no one would believe it.”