Prompt to DeepSeek:
Elaborate covet, covetous, covetous of. Give some interesting examples and stories.
關於「Covet」（覬覦）、「Covetous」（貪婪的）、「Covetous Of」（對…的貪婪）的詳細解析
這些詞彙描述一種強烈且往往不健康的慾望，渴望擁有他人之物。「Covet」是動詞，「covetous」形容這種渴望的狀態，而「covetous of」則用於明確慾望的對象。以下是定義、細微差異及生動例子。
1. Covet（動詞）
定義：渴望擁有他人之物（通常為有形物品），有時涉及不道德意圖。
例子與故事：
宗教起源：〈十誡〉中的第十誡——「不可貪戀人的房屋、妻子、僕婢、牛驢」——是道德教誨的核心，強調「覬覦」如何腐蝕社會和諧。
特洛伊戰爭：帕里斯覬覦斯巴達王墨涅拉奧斯的妻子海倫，引發十年戰爭。他的貪求（源於神明的操縱或凡人的愚行）摧毀了無數文明。
現代科技：新創公司常覬覦矽谷「獨角獸」的地位，導致惡性競爭與道德妥協，如血液檢測公司Theranos的詐騙崛起。
2. Covetous（形容詞）
定義：對他人的財產、地位或優勢懷有嫉妒的渴望。
例子與故事：
咕嚕的執念：在《魔戒》中，咕嚕對至尊魔戒的貪婪執念，將他從霍比特人般的生物扭曲成陰險殺手——隱喻慾望如何吞噬人性。
史古基的吝嗇：狄更斯的《聖誕頌歌》中，守財奴史古基貪戀財富，孤絕於人世，直至他直面貪婪的空虛。
歷史上的奢靡：路易十四的朝臣們貪求國王的恩寵，陰謀爭奪頭銜與領地。這種扭曲的環境催生了權謀算計，如南西·米特福德《太陽王》中的描寫。
3. Covetous Of（片語）
定義：明確指出渴望的對象，強調一種佔有性的強烈慾望。
例子與故事：
藝術品竊案：1911年，文森佐·佩魯吉亞因貪婪《蒙娜麗莎》的文化價值，從羅浮宮盜走畫作，藏匿兩年，堅信它「應屬義大利」。
文學悲劇：《大亨小傳》中的蓋茨比，貪戀黛西·布坎南的愛與她代表的精英地位，最終因執念走向破產與死亡。
商業間諜：1990年代，大眾汽車貪婪竊取通用汽車的商業機密，挖角高管何塞·伊格納西奧·洛佩茲，引發10億美元智財權訴訟。
細微差異：Covet 與 Envy
Covet：強調「佔有」他人之物（如：「她覬覦同事的升遷」）。
Envy：強調「怨恨」他人的優勢（如：「他嫉妒她的幸福」）。
道德與文化反思
「貪婪」在宗教與哲學中皆受譴責。佛教視其為苦難之源，伊索寓言〈狗與骨頭〉則警告：貪戀幻影將失去已有之物。現代心理學也將其與物質主義及生活不滿相連結。
最終思考：從神話到科技競爭，「貪婪」揭露人性與慾望的脆弱關係——既可激發野心，亦能催生毀滅。如王爾德諷喻：「當眾神想懲罰我們，就會回應我們的祈禱。」
Elaboration on “Covet,” “Covetous,” and “Covetous Of”
These terms revolve around an intense, often unhealthy desire to possess something belonging to another. While “covet” is the verb form, “covetous” describes the state of longing, and “covetous of” specifies the object of desire. Below are definitions, nuances, and vivid examples to illustrate their usage.
1. Covet (verb)
Definition: To yearn to possess something (often tangible) that belongs to someone else, sometimes unethically.
Examples & Stories:
Biblical Origin: The Tenth Commandment—”Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s house, wife, servant, ox, or donkey”—is a cornerstone of moral teaching, highlighting how coveting can corrode social harmony.
The Trojan War: Paris’s coveting of Helen, wife of King Menelaus, led to a decade-long war. His desire to possess her (driven by divine manipulation or mortal folly) destroyed civilizations.
Modern Tech: Startups often covet Silicon Valley’s “unicorn” status, leading to cutthroat competition and ethical compromises, as seen in scandals like Theranos’s fraudulent rise.
2. Covetous (adjective)
Definition: Characterized by envious longing for others’ possessions, status, or advantages.
Examples & Stories:
Gollum’s Obsession: In The Lord of the Rings, Gollum’s covetous fixation on the One Ring transforms him from a hobbit-like creature into a twisted, murderous being—a metaphor for how desire can consume identity.
Scrooge’s Avarice: Dickens’ A Christmas Carol portrays Ebenezer Scrooge as covetous of wealth, isolating him from humanity until he confronts the emptiness of his greed.
Historical Excess: King Louis XIV’s courtiers were covetous of his favor, scheming for titles and land. This toxic environment inspired Machiavellian plots, as depicted in The Sun King by Nancy Mitford.
3. Covetous Of (phrase)
Definition: Specifies the object of desire, emphasizing a possessive craving.
Examples & Stories:
Art Theft: In 1911, Vincenzo Peruggia stole the Mona Lisa from the Louvre, covetous of its cultural value. He hid it for two years, believing it “belonged” to Italy.
Literary Tragedy: Jay Gatsby in The Great Gatsby is covetous of Daisy Buchanan’s love and the elite status she represents. His obsession leads to financial ruin and death.
Corporate Espionage: In the 1990s, Volkswagen covetously poached General Motors’ executive José Ignacio López, along with trade secrets, sparking a $1 billion lawsuit over stolen intellectual property.
Nuance: Covet vs. Envy
Covet: Focuses on possessing what another has (e.g., “She coveted her colleague’s promotion”).
Envy: Focuses on resenting another’s advantage (e.g., “He envied her happiness”).
Moral and Cultural Reflections
Covetousness is universally condemned across religions and philosophies. Buddhism identifies it as a root of suffering, while Aesop’s fable The Dog and the Bone warns of losing what you have by coveting illusions. Modern psychology links it to materialism and diminished life satisfaction.
Final Thought: From ancient myths to tech rivalries, covetousness reveals humanity’s fragile relationship with desire—a force that can inspire ambition or breed destruction. As Oscar Wilde quipped, “When the gods wish to punish us, they answer our prayers.”