I hate the man who builds his name
On ruins of another’s fame.

In these lines, Gay condemns a familiar social and literary vice: self-advancement achieved by tearing down others. The “man who builds his name / On ruins of another’s fame” is someone who seeks reputation not through merit but through detraction—using satire, gossip, or criticism to diminish a rival so that his own standing appears higher by comparison. The couplet’s moral force lies in its clarity and balance: “name” and “fame” are paired, while “builds” and “ruins” sharply contrast constructive achievement with destructive envy. The sentiment aligns with Augustan-era ideals of civility and fair competition in letters and public life.