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
Life being what it is, one dreams of revenge.
—Paul Gauguin (1848–1903) French Post-Impressionist Painter
Revenge proves its own executioner.
—John M. Ford (1957–2006) American Novelist, Writer, Poet
And, re-assembling our afflicted powers, consult how we may henceforth most offend.
—John Milton (1608–74) English Poet, Civil Servant, Scholar, Debater
Don’t get mad, get even.
—Robert F. Kennedy (1925–68) American Politician, Civil Rights Activist
If you are affronted it is better to pass it by in silence, or with a jest, though with some dishonor, than to endeavor revenge.—If you can keep reason above passion, that and watchfulness will be your best defenders.
—Isaac Newton (1643–1727) English Physicist, Mathematician, Astronomer, Theologian
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
In revenge a man is but even with his enemies; but it is a princely thing to pardon, for Solomon saith, “It is the glory of a man to pass over a transgression.”
—Francis Bacon (1561–1626) English Philosopher
What is revenge but courage to call in our honor’s debts, and wisdom to convert others’ self-love into our own protection?
—Edward Young (1683–1765) English Poet
Little, vicious minds abound with anger and revenge, and are incapable of feeling the pleasure of forgiving their enemies.
—Earl of Chesterfield (1694–1773) English Statesman, Man of Letters
Vengeance taken will often tear the heart and torment the conscience.
—Arthur Schopenhauer (1788–1860) German Philosopher
Revenge is a dish that should be eaten cold.
—English Proverb
Souls made of fire and children of the sun,With whom Revenge is virtue.
—Edward Young (1683–1765) English Poet
To revenge is no valor, but to bear.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
Revenge is an inhuman word.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca) (c.4 BCE–65 CE) Roman Stoic Philosopher, Statesman, Tragedian
Revenge is a kind of wild justice, which the more a man’s nature runs to, the more ought law to weed it out.
—Francis Bacon (1561–1626) English Philosopher
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
Men are more prone to revenge injuries than to requite kindness.
—Thomas Fuller (1608–61) English Cleric, Historian
To be angry is to revenge the faults of others on ourselves.
—Alexander Pope (1688–1744) English Poet
Vengeance is a dish best eaten cold.
—English Proverb
Pleasure and revenge have ears more deaf than adders to the voice of any true decision.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
Before you embark on a journey of revenge, dig two graves.
—Confucius (551–479 BCE) Chinese Philosopher
Revenge is always the weak pleasure of a little and narrow mind.
—Juvenal (c.60–c.136 CE) Roman Poet
When a man steals your wife, there is no better revenge than to let him keep her.
—Sacha Guitry (1885–1957) Russian-born French Actor, Dramatist
Some people would rather get even instead of get ahead.
—Les Brown
What should a wise person do when given a blow? Same as Cato when he was attacked; not fire up or revenge the insult., or even return the blow, but simply ignore it.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca) (c.4 BCE–65 CE) Roman Stoic Philosopher, Statesman, Tragedian
Delay in vengeance gives a heavier blow.
—John M. Ford (1957–2006) American Novelist, Writer, Poet
He who gratifies revenge destroys his own house.
—The Talmud Sacred Text of the Jewish Faith
Misery and remorse are the children of revenge.
—The Talmud Sacred Text of the Jewish Faith
The revenge that is postponed is not forgotten.
—Icelandic Proverb
And where the offense is, let the great axe fall.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
When Anger and Revenge get married, their daughter is called Cruelty.
—Russian Proverb
An eye for an eye only ends up making the whole world blind.
—Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869–1948) Indian Hindu Political leader
You’ll never get ahead of anyone as long as you try to get even with him.
—Lou Holtz (1893–1980) American Stage Performer
Revenge, at first though sweet, Bitter ere long back on itself recoils.
—John Milton (1608–74) English Poet, Civil Servant, Scholar, Debater
Living well is the best revenge.
—George Herbert (1593–1633) Welsh Anglican Poet, Orator, Clergyman
Heat not a furnace for your foe so hot that it do singe yourself.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
Widows comfort themselves when they remarry, widowers take revenge.
—French Proverb
Shameful deeds bring on revenge.
—Norwegian Proverb
No revenge is more honorable than the one not taken.
—Spanish Proverb
Vengeance is in my heart, death in my hand,
Blood and revenge are hammering in my head.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
He who seeks revenge should remember to dig two graves.
—Chinese Proverb
Forgiveness is better than revenge, for forgiveness is the sign of a gentle nature, but revenge is the sign of a savage nature.
—Epictetus (55–135) Ancient Greek Philosopher
Forgiveness hides a pleasure that you can’t get back from revenge.
—Persian 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
Revenge is profitable, gratitude is expensive.
—Edward Gibbon (1737–94) English Historian, Politician
In taking revenge, a man is but even with his enemy; but in passing it over, he is superior; for it is a prince’s part to pardon.
—Francis Bacon (1561–1626) English Philosopher
On wrongs swift vengeance waits.
—Alexander Pope (1688–1744) English Poet
There’s small Revenge in Words, but Words may be greatly revenged.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
To take revenge halfheartedly is to court disaster: Either condemn or crown your hatred.
—Pierre Corneille (1606–84) French Poet, Dramatist