The 50th Law (with 50 Cent)

Signs of Envy
Although the signs are subtle, envious feelings tend to leak out and can
be detected if you are observant. Seeing one such sign in isolation
might indicate passive or weak envy. You want to look for
combinations or repetitions of the following signs, a pattern, before
moving to alert mode.
Microexpressions:
When people first experience envy, they have not
yet fooled themselves into thinking it is something else, and so they are
more prone to leakage than later on. That is why first impressions are
often the most accurate and should be given added weight in this case.
Envy is most associated with the eyes. The root of the Latin word for
envy, invidia, means “to look through, to probe with the eyes like a
dagger.” The early meaning of the word was associated with the “evil

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eye” and the belief that a look could actually convey a curse and
physically harm someone.
The eyes are indeed a telling indicator, but the envious
microexpression affects the entire face. You will notice the envier’s
eyes momentarily boring into you, with a look that suggests disdain
and a touch of hostility. It is the look of a child who feels cheated. With
this look the corners of the mouth will often be turned down, the nose
in a sneering, somewhat upturned position, the chin jutting out.
Although the look will be a little too direct and held a little too long, it
still will not last more than a second or two. It is usually followed with
a strained, fake smile. Often you will see the look by accident, as you
suddenly turn your head their direction, or you will feel their eyes
burning into you without directly looking at them.
The German philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer (1788–1860)
devised a quick way to elicit these looks and test for envy. Tell
suspected enviers some good news about yourself—a promotion, a new
and exciting love interest, a book contract. You will notice a very quick
expression of disappointment. Their tone of voice as they congratulate
you will betray some tension and strain. Equally, tell them some
misfortune of yours and notice the uncontrollable microexpression of
joy in your pain, what is commonly known as schadenfreude. Their
eyes light up for a fleeting second. People who are envious cannot help
feeling some glee when they hear of the bad luck of those they envy.
If you see such looks in the first few encounters with someone, as
Mary did with Jane, and they happen more than once, be on the
lookout for a dangerous envier entering your life.