Louis Roney: Play On!

A football coach of mine used to tell us to block or tackle a guy as hard as we could, and then help him back to his feet — for such an action weakens the opponents desire for revenge. 
When I was a kid, it often seemed to me that people who were wronged and “didn’t get even” were essentially cowards. Later on, I began to see that it is sometimes more effective and, in fact, accomplishes more, if one leaves things in place and does not indulge in the feral justice of revenge.


In retrospect, although I was in fist fights as a kid, I can’t remember winning anything by hitting someone else — although even today, I would not allow someone to hit me unanswered. 
Getting revenge often turns an unleashed force back upon itself. As John Milton said, “Revenge, at first thought sweet; Bitter ere long back on itself recoils.” One can find that he has painted himself into a corner of bitterness. 


Lord Byron must have had a special experience when he wrote the peculiar quote: “Sweet is revenge—especially to women.” (It is best not to give a woman cause for revenge, methinks!)


Sorts of revenge have their just purpose. As president, James Garfield said, “For mere vengeance I would do nothing. This nation is too great to look for mere revenge. But, for the security of the future, I would do everything.” 


Revenge spawns special retaliatory strike-backs. As Shakespeare said, “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?”

As Olin Miller said, “It’s far easier to forgive an enemy after you’ve gotten even with him.” 


And then there’s the unattributed quote, “The longest odds in the world are those against getting even.”


Sasha Guitry says, “When a man steals your wife, there is no better revenge than to let him keep her.” 
And a warning from George Bernard Shaw, “Beware of a man who does not return your blow: He neither forgives you nor allows you to forgive yourself.” 


Football elevens and other sports teams must often wait a long time to revenge a loss. “Wait’ll next year!” is the farewell that leaves teams in anticipation of another chance. Neither side can realistically rest on its laurels, or have reason to be deterred by hopelessness. 


Revenge does more for the legal profession than any other human emotion. Time spent getting even is better spent getting ahead. Your own success will make you happy and put you above all your enemies. People who want to get even with others are usually at odds with themselves, and stand in the way of their own success. 


“Revenge is the only debt that is wrong to pay,” says an anonymous quote – i.e. you let the other guy off the hook. 
When you get even with people it always leaves them with the impression that they owe you something — something you may not relish collecting.

“Some people do odd things to get even.”—Anonymous


“A man that studieth revenge keeps his own wounds green. ”— Sir Francis Bacon. A wise king never leaves his enemies wounded. 


“Time is the great revenger.” — Anonymous 


“Revenge does not long remain unavenged.” – German proverb

“Revenge is a morsel reserved for God,” says a proverb.


“Revenge is mine, saith the Lord.”

If we could really count on God’s avenging us, we would put more money in the collection plate! 
All in all, I’ll stick with George Herbert who says, “Living well is the best revenge.” 
So there! 


About Roney: Harvard’42—Distinguished Prof, Em.—UCF 2004 Fla. Alliance for the Arts award (Assisted by beautiful wife Joy Roney)