It is commonly thought that many people exert themselves to "keep up with the Joneses." That would be sufficient cause for anxiety. But Solomon was right. People may not be satisfied with just keeping up with the Joneses. They wish to outdo them, and that can really be a vexation of the spirit.

People with feelings of inferiority and low self esteem may seek to prove their worthiness and competence by outdoing others. This in itself is destructive enough. Lack of success is not only disappointing but also poses a severe threat to their ego. To make matters infinitely worse, even success at outdoing others does not solve the problem.

Why? Because a person can compensate only for a deficiency that exists in reality. However, one cannot compensate for deficiencies that exist only in his imagination. If he is driven by a need to prove himself by outdoing others, the anxiety due to unwarranted feelings of inferiority will not be relieved by success.