Revenge is a powerful emotion. At times, it might feel like the only way to ease the pain someone has caused. Stories of revenge have been told forever, showing us both its dark and thrilling sides.
Quotes about revenge capture these feelings in sharp, unforgettable words. Whether you’ve been wronged or just enjoy a good story, these quotes will resonate with you. They remind us of the power of actions and the consequences that follow.
Defining Revenge Quotes
“Revenge is a dish best served cold.” – French Proverb
“Before you embark on a journey of revenge, dig two graves.” – Confucius
“The best revenge is to be unlike him who performed the injury.” – Marcus Aurelius
“Living well is the best revenge.” – George Herbert
“While seeking revenge, dig two graves – one for yourself.” – Douglas Horton
“To exact revenge for yourself or your friends is not only a right, it’s an absolute duty.” – Stieg Larsson
“Revenge may be wicked, but it’s natural.” – William Makepeace Thackeray
“The greatest revenge is to accomplish what others say you cannot do.” – Unknown
“Vengeance is a monster of appetite, forever bloodthirsty and never filled.” – Richelle E. Goodrich
“There is no revenge so complete as forgiveness.” – Josh Billings
“Anger, resentment, and revenge are deceitful witnesses.” – Toba Beta
“Revenge is an act of passion; vengeance of justice.” – Samuel Johnson
“It is commonly said that revenge is sweet, but to a calm and considerate mind, patience and forgiveness are sweeter.” – Isaac Barrow
“Revenge, the sweetest morsel to the mouth that ever was cooked in hell.” – Walter Scott
“Success is the sweetest revenge.” – Vanessa Williams
“Revenge, at first though sweet, Bitter ere long back on itself recoils.” – John Milton
“The craving for revenge is a powerful motivator, but it can also be a deadly poison.” – Original
“When a man steals your wife, there is no better revenge than to let him keep her.” – Sacha Guitry
“Revenge, the attribute of gods! They stamped it with their great image on our natures.” – Thomas Otway
“Revenge proves its own executioner.” – John Ford
“He that studieth revenge keepeth his own wounds green.” – Francis Bacon
“Revenge is barren of itself: it is the dreadful food it feeds on; its delight is murder, and its end is despair.” – Friedrich Schiller
“Revenge, lust, and ambition, are the three great incentives to wickedness.” – Jonathan Swift
“The best revenge is massive success.” – Frank Sinatra
“Revenge… is like a rolling stone, which, when a man hath forced up a hill, will return upon him with greater violence.” – Jeremy Taylor
“Vengeance is mine; I will repay, says the Lord.” – Romans 12:19
“Revenge is an infection of the spirit.” – Original
Historical Revenge Quotes
“Revenge is a dish best served cold.” – Unknown
“If you prick us, do we not bleed? If you tickle us, do we not laugh? If you poison us, do we not die? And if you wrong us, shall we not revenge?” – William Shakespeare
“While seeking revenge, dig two graves – one for yourself.” – Douglas Horton
“An eye for an eye will only make the whole world blind.” – Mahatma Gandhi
“To exact revenge for yourself or your friends is not only a right, it’s an absolute duty.” – Stieg Larsson
“Revenge, the sweetest morsel to the mouth that ever was cooked in hell.” – Walter Scott
“He who seeks vengeance must dig two graves: one for his enemy and one for himself.” – Chinese Proverb
“Living well is the best revenge.” – George Herbert
“Revenge is an act of passion; vengeance of justice. Injuries are revenged; crimes are avenged.” – Samuel Johnson
“Before you embark on a journey of revenge, dig two graves.” – Confucius
“I’m a fighter. I believe in the eye-for-an-eye business. I’m no cheek-turner. I got no respect for a man who won’t hit back. You kill my dog, you better hide your cat.” – Muhammad Ali
“Revenge is not worth the lives it destroys.” – Terry Goodkind
“Sweet is revenge—especially to women.” – Lord Byron
“The best revenge is massive success.” – Frank Sinatra
“Do not seek revenge and call it justice.” – Cassandra Clare
“Revenge proves its own executioner.” – John Ford
“While you are meditating revenge, the devil is meditating a recruit.” – François de Malherbe
“In taking revenge, a man is but even with his enemy; but in passing it over, he is superior.” – Francis Bacon
“Success is the best revenge for anything.” – Ed Sheeran
“No trait is more justified than revenge in the right time and place.” – Meir Kahane
“Beware the fury of a patient man.” – John Dryden
“Revenge is a powerful motivator.” – Marcus Luttrell
“Revenge, at first though sweet, bitter ere long back on itself recoils.” – John Milton
“I seek no revenge, but leave my enemies to the law.” – Socrates
“Hate is the coward’s revenge for being humiliated.” – George Bernard Shaw
“Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer.” – Michael Corleone (The Godfather by Mario Puzo)
“The past is not a package one can lay away.” – Emily Dickinson
“In revenge and in love, woman is more barbarous than man.” – Friedrich Nietzsche
Quotes on Revenge in Literature
“If you prick us, do we not bleed? If you tickle us, do we not laugh? If you poison us, do we not die? And if you wrong us, shall we not revenge?” –William Shakespeare
“No more tears now; I will think upon revenge.” –Mary, Queen of Scots
“Revenge is a dish best served cold.” –Pierre Choderlos de Laclos
“Before you embark on a journey of revenge, dig two graves.” –Confucius
“And if you wrong us, shall we not revenge?” –William Shakespeare
“Delay in vengeance delivers a heavier blow.” –John Ford
“Revenge is an act of passion; vengeance of justice.” –Samuel Johnson
“The best revenge is to be unlike him who performed the injury.” –Marcus Aurelius
“Revenge is barren of itself: it is the dreadful food it feeds on; its delight is murder, and its end is despair.” –Friedrich Schiller
“Vengeance and retribution require a long time; it is the rule.” –Charles Dickens
“Revenge proves its own executioner.” –John Ford
“Revenge may be wicked, but it’s natural.” –William Makepeace Thackeray
“Living well is the best revenge.” –George Herbert
“Revenge is sweet and not fattening.” –Alfred Hitchcock
“To exact revenge for yourself or your friends is not only a right, it’s an absolute duty.” –Stieg Larsson
“It is commonly said that revenge is sweet, but to a calm and considerate mind, patience and forgiveness are sweeter.” –Isaac Burrow
“Revenge is often like biting a dog because the dog bit you.” –Austin O’Malley
“Men often mistake killing and revenge for justice. They seldom have the stomach for justice.” –Robert Jordan
“Revenge can only be found on the road to self-destruction.” –Wayne Gerard Trotman
“An eye for an eye will only make the whole world blind.” –Mahatma Gandhi
“The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.” –Mahatma Gandhi
“Revenge is a kind of wild justice, which the more man’s nature runs to, the more ought law to weed it out.” –Francis Bacon
“Revenge is not always sweet, once it is consummated we feel inferior to our victim.” –Emile M. Cioran
“To be angry is to revenge the faults of others on ourselves.” –Alexander Pope
“Success is the best revenge for anything.” –Ed Sheeran
“The best revenge is massive success.” –Frank Sinatra
“Never does the human soul appear so strong as when it foregoes revenge and dares to forgive an injury.” –Edwin Hubbel Chapin
“Revenge is never pretty and often leaves scars that never fade.” –Unknown
Exploring Emotion through Revenge Quotes
“Revenge is a dish best served cold.” – Old Klingon Proverb
“Before you embark on a journey of revenge, dig two graves.” – Confucius
“It is commonly said that revenge is sweet, but to a calm and considerate mind, patience and forgiveness are sweeter.” – Isaac Barrow
“Vengeance is mine, and I will repay.” – The Bible
“Living well is the best revenge.” – George Herbert
“Revenge proves its own executioner.” – John Ford
“An eye for an eye will only make the whole world blind.” – Mahatma Gandhi
“Revenge is an act of passion; vengeance of justice. Injuries are revenged; crimes are avenged.” – Samuel Johnson
“Men should be either treated generously or destroyed, because they take revenge for slight injuries – for heavy ones they cannot.” – Niccolò Machiavelli
“No trait is more justified than revenge in the right time and place.” – Meir Kahane
“The best revenge is massive success.” – Frank Sinatra
“Revenge has no more quenching effect on emotions than salt water has on thirst.” – Walter Weckler
“To exact revenge for yourself or your friends is not only a right, it’s an absolute duty.” – Stieg Larsson, ‘The Girl Who Played with Fire’
“Revenge is often like biting a dog because the dog bit you.” – Austin O’Malley
“The deepest revenge is in indifference.” – Anon
“Success is the best revenge for anything.” – Ed Sheeran
“Revenge, the sweetest morsel to the mouth that ever was cooked in hell.” – Walter Scott
“Those who plot the destruction of others often perish in the attempt.” – Thomas Moore
“The best revenge is to be unlike him who performed the injury.” – Marcus Aurelius
“He who seeks revenge should remember to dig two graves.” – Chinese Proverb
“Revenge is an admission of pain.” – Latin Proverb
“Revenge is barren of itself: it is the dreadful food it feeds on; its delight is murder, and its end is despair.” – Friedrich Schiller
“Revenge, at first though sweet, bitter ere long, back on itself recoils.” – John Milton
“Revenge is the raging fire that consumes the arsonist.” – Max Lucado
“Gorgeous hair is the best revenge.” – Ivana Trump
“To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover that the prisoner was you.” – Lewis B. Smedes
“The best revenge is to live on and prove yourself.” – Eddie Vedder
Quotes about Revenge in Relationships
“Revenge is an act of passion; vengeance of justice. Injuries are revenged; crimes are avenged.” – Samuel Johnson
“The best revenge is to be unlike him who performed the injury.” – Marcus Aurelius
“Living well is the best revenge.” – George Herbert
“Before you embark on a journey of revenge, dig two graves.” – Confucius
“Revenge… is like a rolling stone, which, when a man hath forced up a hill, will return upon him with greater violence, and break those bones whose sinews gave it motion.” – Albert Schweitzer
“While seeking revenge, dig two graves – one for yourself.” – Douglas Horton
“In taking revenge, a man is but even with his enemy; but in passing it over, he is superior.” – Sir Francis Bacon
“Revenge is always the weak pleasure of a little and narrow mind.” – Juvenal
“Revenge proves its own executioner.” – John Ford
“An eye for an eye will only make the whole world blind.” – Mahatma Gandhi
“The best revenge is massive success.” – Frank Sinatra
“Revenge is the raging fire that consumes the arsonist.” – Max Lucado
“Resentment is like taking poison and waiting for the other person to die.” – Malachy McCourt
“Revenge leaves us rooted in the past, not moving towards the future.” – Unknown
“Sweet is revenge – especially to women.” – Lord Byron
“Revenge is a confession of pain.” – Latin Proverb
“What goes around comes around.” – Unknown
“Revenge is often like biting a dog because the dog bit you.” – Austin O’Malley
“Forgiveness liberates the soul. It removes fear. That is why it is such a powerful weapon.” – Nelson Mandela
“Revenge may be wicked, but it’s natural.” – William Makepeace Thackeray
“A man that studieth revenge keeps his own wounds green.” – Francis Bacon
“Revenge is barren of itself: it is the dreadful food it feeds on; its delight is murder, and its end is despair.” – Friedrich Schiller
“Revenge is sweet, but not nourishing.” – Mason Cooley
“Nothing inspires forgiveness quite like revenge.” – Scott Adams
“No trait is more justified than revenge in the right time and place.” – Meir Kahane
“Revenge, the sweetest morsel to the mouth that ever was cooked in hell.” – Walter Scott
“Revenge, at first though sweet, bitter ere long back on itself recoils.” – John Milton
Famous Movie Revenge Quotes
“Revenge is a dish best served cold.” – Khan Noonien Singh, Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan
“They say when you seek revenge, you should dig two graves: one for your enemy and one for yourself.” – The Old Man, The Karate Kid
“My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die.” – Inigo Montoya, The Princess Bride
“Before you embark on a journey of revenge, dig two graves.” – Confucius
“Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer.” – Michael Corleone, The Godfather Part II
“I don’t want to kill you! What would I do without you? You complete me.” – The Joker, The Dark Knight
“Revenge is an act of passion; vengeance of justice. Injuries are revenged; crimes are avenged.” – Samuel Johnson
“Anybody can get mad. It’s easy. But getting even is much trickier.” – Unknown Author
“You either die a hero or you live long enough to see yourself become the villain.” – Harvey Dent, The Dark Knight
“Do you think God stays in heaven because he too lives in fear of what he’s created?” – Dr. Romero, Spy Kids 2: The Island of Lost Dreams
“The greatest revenge is to accomplish what others say you cannot do.” – Unknown Author
“Some things are best left unsaid, but I’ll probably get drunk and say them anyway.” – Unknown Author
“I will find you, and I will kill you.” – Bryan Mills, Taken
“When you dance with the devil, you wait for the song to stop.” – Logan, Logan
“To exact revenge for something that happened long ago is to blame those who come after for the acts of others.” – Terry Goodkind
“Revenge, the sweetest morsel to the mouth that ever was cooked in hell.” – Sir Walter Scott
“And when I shall die, take him and cut him out in little stars, and he will make the face of heaven so fine.” – William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet
“To be wronged is nothing unless you continue to remember it.” – Confucius
“Success is the best revenge for anything. Keep your head down and work hard to achieve.” – Ed Sheeran
“Revenge proves its own executioner.” – John Ford
“Justice is about restoring balance. Revenge is about making yourself feel better.” – Unknown Author
“Don’t get mad; get everything.” – Ivana Trump
“This is your life. Fight for it.” – Jason Bourne, The Bourne Ultimatum
“May the force be with you.” – Star Wars
“Forgive, but don’t forget – or you will be hurt again. Forgiving changes the perspectives. Forgetting loses the lesson.” – Paulo Coelho
Modern Revenge Quotes in Pop Culture
“Revenge is a dish best served cold.” – Old Klingon Proverb
“Some people create their own storms, then get upset when it rains.” – Unknown
“Before you embark on a journey of revenge, dig two graves.” – Confucius
“Living well is the best revenge.” – George Herbert
“Revenge is an act of passion; vengeance of justice.” – Samuel Johnson
“When they go low, we go high.” – Michelle Obama
“Success is the sweetest revenge.” – Vanessa Williams
“Revenge, the sweetest morsel to the mouth that ever was cooked in hell.” – Sir Walter Scott
“Vengeance is mine; I will repay.” – Romans 12:19
“It’s not in my nature to be kind; it’s in my nature to be honest. And sometimes my honesty is mistaken for rudeness.” – Unknown
“The best revenge is massive success.” – Frank Sinatra
“They tried to bury us. They didn’t know we were seeds.” – Mexican Proverb
“Revenge is a powerful motivator.” – Marcus Luttrell
“Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.” – William Congreve
“Nothing inspires forgiveness quite like revenge.” – Scott Adams
“Gossip, as usual, was one-third right and two-thirds wrong.” – L.M. Montgomery
“The greatest revenge is to accomplish what others say you cannot do.” – Walter Bagehot
“People who fight fire with fire usually end up with ashes.” – Abigail Van Buren
“An eye for an eye only ends up making the whole world blind.” – Mahatma Gandhi
“The best formula for revenge is success.” – Kid Rock
“Stay loyal, stay calm, stay humble.” – Unknown
“Revenge is a kind of wild justice.” – Francis Bacon
“So it’s true, when all is said and done, grief is the price we pay for love.” – E.A. Bucchianeri
“Forgiveness liberates the soul. It removes fear. That is why it is such a powerful weapon.” – Nelson Mandela
“It’s better to fail in originality than to succeed in imitation.” – Herman Melville
“Sometimes the best revenge is just to smile and move on.” – Unknown
“Get revenge. Even if it’s only on paper.” – Edgar Allan Poe
Philosophical Quotes on Revenge
“An eye for an eye will only make the whole world blind.” – Mahatma Gandhi
“The best revenge is to be unlike him who performed the injury.” – Marcus Aurelius
“Revenge is sweet and not fattening.” – Alfred Hitchcock
“Before you embark on a journey of revenge, dig two graves.” – Confucius
“No revenge is as complete as forgiveness.” – Josh Billings
“Revenge is a dish best served cold.” – Proverb
“Living well is the best revenge.” – George Herbert
“It is commonly said that revenge is sweet, but to a calm and considerate mind, patience and forgiveness are sweeter.” – Isaac Barrow
“The best revenge is massive success.” – Frank Sinatra
“Revenge, the sweetest morsel to the mouth that ever was cooked in hell.” – Walter Scott
“Vengeance is in my heart, death in my hand.” – William Shakespeare
“Revenge is often like biting a dog because the dog bit you.” – Austin O’Malley
“Those who plot the destruction of others often perish in the attempt.” – Phaedrus
“While seeking revenge, dig two graves – one for yourself.” – Douglas Horton
“He who seeks revenge should remember to dig two graves.” – Chinese Proverb
“The soul that has conceived one wickedness can nurse no good thereafter.” – Sophocles
“Revenge is barren of itself: it is the dreadful food it feeds on; its delight is murder, and its end is despair.” – Friedrich Schiller
“Revenge is not always sweet, once it is consummated we feel inferior to our victim.” – Emil Cioran
“Revenge may be wicked, but it’s natural.” – William Makepeace Thackeray
“Men often mistake killing and revenge for justice. They seldom have the stomach for justice.” – Robert Jordan
“Revenge proves its own executioner.” – John Ford
“In revenge and in love, woman is more barbarous than man.” – Friedrich Nietzsche
“Revenge is the raging fire that consumes the arsonist.” – Max Lucado
“It is sweet to repay the brave boy, who deserves to be avenged.” – Virgil
“Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” – Bible
“The old law about ‘an eye for an eye’ leaves everybody blind.” – Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
“The best revenge is to show them that your life is getting better after they’re gone.” – Unknown
To Sum Up
Revenge can stir up many emotions, and quotes about it can be both powerful and thought-provoking. These quotes offer various perspectives on retaliation, from the wisdom of letting go to the satisfaction of just desserts. They encourage us to reflect on our feelings and to consider the consequences of our actions.
Whether you are seeking comfort, looking to understand your feelings, or just curious, these revenge quotes can provide valuable insights. They remind us that while revenge might feel justified, it often comes with a price. Reflect on these words and choose a path that brings peace and growth.
