You’ll never get ahead of anyone as long as you try to get even with him.
—Lou Holtz (1893–1980) American Stage Performer
Life being what it is, one dreams of revenge.
—Paul Gauguin (1848–1903) French Post-Impressionist Painter
Where vice is vengeance follows.
—Scottish Proverb
Revenge is profitable, gratitude is expensive.
—Edward Gibbon (1737–94) English Historian, Politician
An eye for an eye only ends up making the whole world blind.
—Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869–1948) Indian Hindu Political leader
Revenge is a common passion; it is the sin of the uninstructed.—The savage deems it noble; but the religion of Christ, which is the sublime civilizer, emphatically condemns it. Why? Because religion ever seeks to ennoble man; and nothing so debases him as revenge.
—Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton (1803–73) British Novelist, Poet, Politician
Dare not usurp thy maker’s place by giving way to wrath—wrath that goes forth in vengeance; “vengeance is mine, I will repay, saith the Lord.”
—Charles Simmons (1924–2017) American Editor, Novelist
Hath any wronged thee? Be bravely revenged.—Slight it, and the work is begun; forgive it, and it is finished.—He is below himself that is not above any injury.
—Francis Quarles (1592–1644) English Religious Poet
Revenge, at first though sweet, Bitter ere long back on itself recoils.
—John Milton (1608–74) English Poet, Civil Servant, Scholar, Debater
Revenge is sweeter than life itself. So think fools.
—Juvenal (c.60–c.136 CE) Roman Poet
Revenge is an act of passion; vengeance of justice. Injuries are revenged; crimes are avenged.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
Revenge converts a little right into a great wrong.
—German Proverb
Vengeance is in my heart, death in my hand,
Blood and revenge are hammering in my head.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
Living well is the best revenge.
—George Herbert (1593–1633) Welsh Anglican Poet, Orator, Clergyman
There’s small Revenge in Words, but Words may be greatly revenged.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
Souls made of fire and children of the sun,With whom Revenge is virtue.
—Edward Young (1683–1765) English Poet
Shameful deeds bring on revenge.
—Norwegian Proverb
What ever the motive for the insult, it is always best to overlook it; for folly doesn’t deserve resentment, and malice is punished by neglect.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
You will find that silence or very gentle words are the most exquisite revenge for insult.
—Indian Proverb
He who seeks revenge should remember to dig two graves.
—Chinese Proverb
One who is injured ought not to return the injury, for on no account can it be right to do an injustice; and it is not right to return an injury, or to do evil to any man, however much we have suffered from him.
—Socrates (469BCE–399BCE) Ancient Greek Philosopher
If you want to take revenge on a man, send him a really beautiful woman.
—Arabic Proverb
Revenge is a confession of pain.
—Latin Proverb
It is better to die in revenge than to live on in shame.
—Arabic Proverb
‘Tis more noble to forgive, and more manly to despise, than to revenge an Injury.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
If you are bitten by a snake, what’s the best thing to do? Remain calm, separate the poison from the rest of your body, suck the poison out. Worst thing to do: get upset, chase and kill snake. Same when someone strikes out at you verbally. Remain calm, don’t try to strike back at the other person. Don’t let the poison spread throughout your system.
—Unknown
An eye for eye makes the whole world blind.
—Unknown
Some people would rather get even instead of get ahead.
—Les Brown
Forgiveness hides a pleasure that you can’t get back from revenge.
—Persian Proverb
Just vengeance does not call for punishment.
—Pierre Corneille (1606–84) French Poet, Dramatist