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Revenge is a dish best served cold. This is a common saying that means that revenge is more satisfying when it is delayed and taken in a calculated manner. It is often contrasted with the saying "He who lives by the sword, dies by the sword," which suggests that taking revenge will only lead to more violence. The saying "Revenge is a dish best served cold" is thought to have originated in the 16th century. It is often attributed to the French philosopher François de La Rochefoucauld, who wrote in his Maxims (1665): "La vengeance est un plat qui se mange froid." ("Revenge is a dish that is eaten cold.") The saying has been used in many works of literature, including Shakespeare's Hamlet (1601), where Hamlet says: "Revenge should have no bounds." It has also been used in popular culture, such as in the film Kill Bill (2003), where Uma Thurman's character, Beatrix Kiddo, seeks revenge on the people who killed her.
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