Revenge is barren of itself: it is the dreadful food it feeds on; its delight is murder, and its end is despair.
Attribution disputed; shown as originally published.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Revenge consumes itself, feeding on murder and ending in despair.
- In plain terms
- Revenge destroys the avenger.
- What can you take from it?
- Avoid revenge; it leads to hopelessness.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- What alternatives exist to revenge?
- How does revenge affect the avenger's wellbeing?
Another view
Revenge can sometimes feel justified in the heat of emotion.
More from Friedrich von Schiller
Power is the most persuasive rhetoric.
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