What is the punishment for envy, anger, jealousy, or hurtfulness? The answer is more envy, more anger, more jealousy, more hurtfulness. Think of how painful these states of being are. What greater deterrent to being negative and spiteful can there be than the persistent experience of these feelings?
If we continue to hurt ourselves with these emotions, it is because we insist on continually blaming others for our reactions. But others are never at fault. They are merely messengers showing us what we need to learn about and heal within ourselves.