Achievements and Suffering
He who with trouble and sufferings, or even only after waiting a long time, has achieved something desirable, if he sees another achieve the same thing easily and quickly, does not in fact lose anything he possesses. Nevertheless, such a thing is bound to be very hateful, because in the imagination the achievement diminishes out of all proportion if it is held in common with him who has expended or suffered little or nothing to obtain it. Therefore, in the parable, the workers in the vineyard complain of an injustice done to themselves, because a wage equal to theirs has been given to those who have done less work. Similarly, the brothers in certain religious orders are accustomed to treat their novices with every kind of harshness, for fear they will without any effort reach that state which they themselves only attained after some discomfort.
Giacomo Leopardi, in 'Thoughts'