38 Quotes About Vengeance

In the complex tapestry of human emotions, vengeance often weaves a compelling yet controversial thread. Whether viewed as a path to justice or a cycle of destruction, the notion of seeking retribution has inspired countless thoughts and reflections over the ages. In this curated collection, we delve into the most profound, incisive, and thought-provoking quotes about vengeance. Each quote offers a glimpse into the minds of philosophers, writers, and thinkers who have grappled with the idea of vengeance, inviting readers to explore its allure and its perils. As we journey through these 38 quotes, prepare to reflect on the intricate balance between justice and revenge, and the depths of human emotion that drive us towards seeking redress for wrongs.

1. “Vengeance is sweet. Vengeance taken when the vengee isn't sure who the venger is, is sweeter still.” - Gary D. Schmidt

2. “Art makes murder into the supreme image of Beauty and in doing so sets free the vengeful God. (referring to Jean Lorrain's LE VICE ERRANT)” - Jennifer Birkett

3. “Towards thee I roll, thou all-destroying but unconquering whale; to the last I grapple with thee; from hell's heart I stab at thee; for hate's sake I spit my last breath at thee.” - Herman Melville

4. “LET THE FLAMES BEGIN!” - Hayley Williams

5. “For the taking of revenge, a man locks himself up alone and thinks. His stomach must be empty for his head to be full. Vengeance comes a little from the heart and a lot from the mind; one must take oneself apart from the noise of men and of things, even from what resembles them; only the voices of bells and of thunder are allowed. Let the room in which you meditate be dark, narrow and warm.” - Xavier Forneret

6. “The raw hunk of meat that used to be my enemy makes a sound, and I know where the mouth is. And I think the word he's trying to say is 'please'. Pity, not vengeance sends my arrow flying into his skull.” - Suzanne Collins

7. “Vengeance is one of life's great motivators.” - K.S. Brooks

8. “Part of me wants justice for this. Part of me wants to never cause harm to another.” - Ken Scholes

9. “Regarding vengeance and arch-enemies, one must not only be timely but prideful, and pride exacts propriety.” - Adam Levin

10. “The problem is that no matter how good your intentions, eventually you want to kill someone yourself.” - Kenneth Cain

11. “If you're betrayed, release disappointment at once.By that way, the bitterness has no time to take root.” - Toba Beta

12. “When the ships had lifted, they returned across the river to the silence of death. Then his grandfather told him, "Many fine things your father had planned for you: learning and useful work and a life of satisfaction and peace. Do you recall this?""Yes, Grandfather.""The learning you shall have. You will learn patience and resource, the ability of your hands and your mind. You will have useful work: the destruction of evil men. What work could be more useful? This is Beyond; you will find that your work is never done—so therefore you may never know life of peace. However, I guarantee you ample satisfaction, for I will teach you to crave the blood of these men more than the flesh of woman."The old man had been as good as his word.” - Jack Vance

13. “...And you, you better run because i'm going to destroy you for what you've taken from me.” - Samantha Young

14. “I am often thought of as being remarkably bright, and yet my brains, more often than not, are busily devising new and interesting ways of bringing my enemies to sudden, gagging, writhing, agonizing death.” - Alan Bradley

15. “And now,' said the unknown, 'farewell kindness, humanity, and gratitude! Farewell to all the feelings that expand the heart! I have been heaven's substitute to recompense the good - now the god of vengeance yields to me his power to punish the wicked!” - Alexandre Dumas

16. “I know there are people who believe you should forgive and forget. For the record, I'd like to say I'm a big fan of forgiveness as long as I'm given the opportunity to get even first.” - Sue Grafton

17. “You cannot get ahead while you are getting even.” - Dick Armey

18. “When it comes to world news, attitude is what marks the distinction between justice and vengeance. Justice is pure, but vengeance brings more ruin.” - Criss Jami

19. “Look, Chief, you can't go off half-cocked looking for vengeance against a fish. That shark isn't evil. It's not a murderer. It's just obeying its own instincts. Trying to get retribution against a fish is crazy.” - Peter Benchley

20. “... Life can be savored only if you look to the future and leave vengeance to the gods” - David Gemmell

21. “I am glad that though someone did me grossly wrong my final mark on this world is not one of countering hurt with more hurt but is one of love and friendship. We will always be known by our actions. Let them always be good ones.” - Sherrilyn Kenyon

22. “I, Rooster John Byron, hereby place a curseUpon the Kennet and Avon Council,May they wander the land for ever,Never sleep twice in the same bed,Never drink water from the same well,And never cross the same river twice in a year.He who steps in my blood, may it stick to themLike hot oil. May it scorch them for life,And may the heat dry up their souls,And may they be filled with the melancholyWine won't shift. And all their newborn babiesBe born mangled, with the same marks,The same wounds of their fathers.Any uniform which brushes a single leaf of this woodIs cursed, and he who wears it this St George's Day,May he not see the next.” - Jez Butterworth

23. “She swore vengeance on all men with dark hearts.” - Lisa Papademetriou

24. “It is unfortunate that in most cases when the sins of the father fall on the son it is because unlike God, people refuse to forgive and forget and heap past wrongs upon innocent generations.” - E.A. Bucchianeri

25. “No one messes around with a nerd’s computer and escapes unscathed.” - E.A. Bucchianeri

26. “The ecstasy of wrath is not enough for vengeance!” - Anonyms

27. “Life was taking its vengeance on me, and that vengeance consisted merely in coming back, nothing more. Every case of madness involves something coming back. People who are possessed are not possessed by something that just comes but instead by something that comes back. Sometimes life comes back. If in me everything crumbled before that power, it is not because that power was itself necessarily an overwhelming one: it in fact had only to come, since it had already become too full-flowing a force to be controlled or contained - when it appeared it overran everything. And then, like after a flood, there floated a wardrobe, a person, a loose window, three suitcases. And that seemed like Hell to me, that destruction of layers and layers of human archaeology.” - Clarice Lispector

28. “Judiciously show a cat, milk, if you wish her to thirst for it. Judiciously show a dog his natural prey, if you wish him to bring it down one day.” - Charles Dickens

29. “When the time comes, let loose a tiger and a devil; but wait for the time with the tiger and the devil chained -not shown- yet always ready.” - Charles Dickens

30. “Some justice, though did not deal with kindheartedness or good feeling toward others. No, justice had a darker side, a gray area where it mingled alongside vengeance, and only the wise and pure of heart were able to tell the two apart. That kind of justice was swift. It was only called upon afer mercy and morals fail. It was the darkest form of goodness known to anyone, even the gods, and required only the strongest, most daring men to bring about.” - Evan Meekins

31. “I wanted it more than enough. I wanted it with every fiber of my being, and I had the power to make it happen - to make it so I was the one Drew wanted, not Lizzie” - Michelle Madow

32. “Vengeance, retaliation, retribution, revenge are deceitful brothers—vile, beguiling demons promising justifiable compensation to a pained soul for his losses. Yet in truth they craftily fester away all else of worth remaining.” - Richelle E. Goodrich

33. “He was in that humour when a man will cut off his nose to spite his face” - Robert Louis Stevenson

34. “Vengeance is a monster of appetite, forever bloodthirsty and never filled.” - Richelle E. Goodrich

35. “Vengeance is a delicious fruit, which must be allowed to ripen in order that it may be fully enjoyed.” - Émile Gaboriau

36. “One of my favorite dialogue pieces from Black Creek Burning: “It was a polite, white lie,” Brie whispered. “I’ll have to remember you think that way,” Nathan said.” - R.T. Wolfe

37. “God will not let any violence go unpunished, but He Himself will take vengeance on our enemies and will send home to them what they have deserved by the way they have treated us. As He Himself says (Deut. 23:55): “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay.” On the basis of this, St. Paul admonishes the Christians (Rom. 12:19): “Never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God.” These words are not only instruction but also consolation, as if He were to say: “Do not take it upon yourselves to avenge yourselves on one another or to speak curses and maledictions. The person that does you harm or injury is interfering with the office of God and sinning against God as gravely as this man has sinned against you. Therefore, keep your fist to yourself. Leave it to the charge of His wrath and punishing, for He will not let it remain unavenged, and His punishment is more severe than you would like. This man has not assailed you but God Himself, and has already fallen into His wrath. He will not escape this. No one ever has. So why get angry with him when the anger of God, immensely greater and more severe than the anger and punishment of the whole world, has already come upon him and has already avenged itself more thoroughly than you ever could? Besides, he has not injured you one tenth as much as he has injured God. When you see him lying under the severe condemnation, why so many curses and threats of vengeance? Rather you should take pity on his plight, and pray for him to be rescued from it and to reform.” - Martin Luther

38. “I've always considered myself a good person. I've never done anything to purposely hurt anyone. I was in shock that this happened to me, and because it did, I turned into this vengeful person. I've never truly hated anyone, but I was glad when I saw him lying there on the floor.” - Maya Banks