--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The one who pursues revenge should dig…" description: "\"The one who pursues revenge should dig two graves.\" — Allen C. Guelzo" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af2/allen-c-guelzo-17586_graves_the-one-who-pursues-revenge-should-dig-t_362880.jpg" --- # The one who pursues revenge should dig two graves. ![“The one who pursues revenge should dig two graves.” quote by Allen C. Guelzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af2/allen-c-guelzo-17586_graves_the-one-who-pursues-revenge-should-dig-t_362880.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af2/allen-c-guelzo-17586_graves_the-one-who-pursues-revenge-should-dig-t_362880.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af2/allen-c-guelzo-17586_graves_the-one-who-pursues-revenge-should-dig-t_362880.jpg) > “The one who pursues revenge should dig two graves.” [Allen C. Guelzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-c-guelzo/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Revenge harms both the avenger and the target, leading to mutual destruction. **In simple terms:** Revenge destroys both sides. Key Takeaway Avoid revenge; seek justice. Themes justice revenge consequences Mood thoughtful serious Type ethical philosophical When to use this quote - personal disputes - legal systems - family feuds - political retaliation Key Concepts ethical philosophy conflict resolution Questions to Reflect On - Is revenge ever justified? - What alternatives exist to retaliation? A Different Perspective Justice may be more effective than revenge. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dig Graves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dig-graves-1825553/) [Dig Two Graves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dig-two-graves/) [Graves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/graves/) [Pursue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pursue/) [Pursues Revenge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pursues-revenge-3327786/) [Revenge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/revenge/) [Revenge Dig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/revenge-dig-1825552/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [Two](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/two/) ## Related quotes > [While seeking revenge, dig two graves - one for yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-horton/while-seeking-revenge-dig-two-graves-one-for-yourself/) [Douglas Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-horton/) > [If you are bent on revenge, dig two graves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/old-chinese-proverb/if-you-are-bent-on-revenge-dig-two-graves/) [Old Chinese Proverb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/old-chinese-proverb/) > [Before you enbark on a journey of revenge, dig two graves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/before-you-enbark-on-a-journey-of-revenge-dig-two-graves/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Confucius said, “Before embarking upon a journey of revenge, dig two graves.” I planned to dig seven.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lili-st-germain/confucius-said-before-embarking-upon-a-journey-of-revenge-dig-two/) [Lili St. Germain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lili-st-germain/) > [“When plotting revenge, you should dig two graves - one for your enemy, and the other for yourself”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-robert-brown/when-plotting-revenge-you-should-dig-two-graves-one-for-your-enemy/) [Nathan Robert Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-robert-brown/) > [To Emback on a journey of revenge, dig two graves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-kings/to-emback-on-a-journey-of-revenge-dig-two-graves/) [Chris Kings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-kings/) > [“He who seeks revenge should dig two graves.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mick-haines/he-who-seeks-revenge-should-dig-two-graves/) [Mick Haines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mick-haines/) > [Before you embark on a journey of revenge, dig two graves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/before-you-embark-on-a-journey-of-revenge-dig-two-graves/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [“Before you embark on a journey of revenge, dig two graves, Confucius said.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mcewan/before-you-embark-on-a-journey-of-revenge-dig-two-graves-confucius/) [Ian McEwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mcewan/) > [If you devote your life to seeking revenge, first dig two graves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/if-you-devote-your-life-to-seeking-revenge-first-dig-two-graves/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [When seeking revenge, dig two graves before you star, one for your enemy, the other for anyone who gets in your way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-heller/when-seeking-revenge-dig-two-graves-before-you-star-one-for-your/) [Andrew Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-heller/) > [“Before you embark on a journey of revenge, dig two graves.-- Confucius”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/before-you-embark-on-a-journey-of-revenge-dig-two-graves-confucius-2/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When you seek revenge, be sure to dig two graves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-eccleston/when-you-seek-revenge-be-sure-to-dig-two-graves/) [Christopher Eccleston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-eccleston/) > [“Topper had once heard a saying, "If you set out on the path to revenge, first dig two graves." But things worked a little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-e-mclean/topper-had-once-heard-a-saying-if-you-set-out-on-the-path-to-revenge/) [Patrick E. McLean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-e-mclean/) > [“Before you embark on a journey of revenge, dig two graves, Confucius said. Revenge unstitches a civilisation.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mcewan/before-you-embark-on-a-journey-of-revenge-dig-two-graves-confucius-3/) [Ian McEwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mcewan/) ## More by Allen C. Guelzo > [Remember that Abraham Lincoln was a Whig far longer than he was a Republican. As a whole, the Whigs looked upon banks and corporations…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-c-guelzo/remember-that-abraham-lincoln-was-a-whig-far-longer-than-he-was-a/) [Allen C. Guelzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-c-guelzo/) > [Abraham Lincoln would have been happy to have solved the slavery problem by compensation - in fact, drew up a gradual, compensated emancipation plan…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-c-guelzo/abraham-lincoln-would-have-been-happy-to-have-solved-the-slavery/) [Allen C. Guelzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-c-guelzo/) > [I suppose I've been interested in Abraham Lincoln for almost as long as I can remember. My first Lincoln book was the Classics Illustrated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-c-guelzo/i-suppose-i-ve-been-interested-in-abraham-lincoln-for-almost-as-long/) [Allen C. Guelzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-c-guelzo/) > [Patriotism without criticism has no head; criticism without patriotism has no heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-c-guelzo/patriotism-without-criticism-has-no-head-criticism-without-patriotism/) [Allen C. Guelzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-c-guelzo/) > [“Men who are industrious, and sober, and honest in the pursuit of their own interests should after a while accumulate capital, and after that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-c-guelzo/men-who-are-industrious-and-sober-and-honest-in-the-pursuit-of-their/) [Allen C. Guelzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-c-guelzo/) > [“The question is simply this: Can a negro, whose ancestors were imported into this country, and sold as slaves, become a member of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-c-guelzo/the-question-is-simply-this-can-a-negro-whose-ancestors-were-imported/) [Allen C. Guelzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-c-guelzo/) > [“have got Lee just where I want him; he must fight me on my own ground.” So he waited to see what would happen—which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-c-guelzo/have-got-lee-just-where-i-want-him-he-must-fight-me-on-my-own-ground/) [Allen C. Guelzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-c-guelzo/) > [“On the side of the Union,” Lincoln said, it is a struggle for maintaining in the world, that form, and substance of government, whose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-c-guelzo/on-the-side-of-the-union-lincoln-said-it-is-a-struggle-for/) [Allen C. Guelzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-c-guelzo/) > [Corporations did not achieve the scale we normally associate with them until the 1880s; but it's still hard to imagine that Abraham Lincoln would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-c-guelzo/corporations-did-not-achieve-the-scale-we-normally-associate-with/) [Allen C. Guelzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-c-guelzo/) > [“It seems only human nature to hang the label irrational on what we do not understand, since it is easy for us to assume…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-c-guelzo/it-seems-only-human-nature-to-hang-the-label-irrational-on-what-we-do/) [Allen C. Guelzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-c-guelzo/) > [“Lincoln was “the first great man that I talked with in the United States freely who in no single instance reminded me of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-c-guelzo/lincoln-was-the-first-great-man-that-i-talked-with-in-the-united/) [Allen C. Guelzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-c-guelzo/) > [“And so Jefferson wrote the Northwest Ordinance of 1787, which organized the new territories of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, and Wisconsin so that slavery…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-c-guelzo/and-so-jefferson-wrote-the-northwest-ordinance-of-1787-which/) [Allen C. Guelzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-c-guelzo/) > [“The struggle of the Union and Confederate economies to supply and support their armies thus became a reflection of the prewar antagonism between liberal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-c-guelzo/the-struggle-of-the-union-and-confederate-economies-to-supply-and/) [Allen C. Guelzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-c-guelzo/) > [It is possible to have pardon without forgiveness-a murderer can be pardoned by the governor, but that does not mean the victim's family has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-c-guelzo/it-is-possible-to-have-pardon-without-forgiveness-a-murderer-can-be/) [Allen C. Guelzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-c-guelzo/) > [The best one-volume biography of Abraham Lincoln is still Benjamin Thomas's 1952 biography. David Donald's 1995 biography is a close second, and close enough…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-c-guelzo/the-best-one-volume-biography-of-abraham-lincoln-is-still-benjamin/) [Allen C. Guelzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-c-guelzo/) [Explore all 36 Allen C. Guelzo quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-c-guelzo/) ## More Graves quotes > [When man of slender visits you / Nothing on earth that one can do / In well he’ll hide, or watery hole / And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-goldstein/when-man-of-slender-visits-you-nothing-on-earth-that-one-can-do-in/) [Jack Goldstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-goldstein/) > [One must accept the fact that we have only one companion in this world, a companion who accompanies us from the cradle to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agatha-christie/one-must-accept-the-fact-that-we-have-only-one-companion-in-this/) [Agatha Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agatha-christie/) > [There was only the broad square with the scattered dim moons of the street lamps and with the monumental stone arch which receded into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-maria-remarque/there-was-only-the-broad-square-with-the-scattered-dim-moons-of-the/) [Erich Maria Remarque](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-maria-remarque/) > [It is perhaps my greatest hope, Mr. President, that some day we'll consider tax and spending measures with no one else in mind but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mccain/it-is-perhaps-my-greatest-hope-mr-president-that-some-day-we-ll/) [John McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccain/) > [Things aren't what they used to be' is the rallying cry of small minds. When men say things used to be better, they invariably…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-abercrombie/things-aren-t-what-they-used-to-be-is-the-rallying-cry-of-small-minds/) [Joe Abercrombie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-abercrombie/) > [Man preys on man; and you mourn for the idle tapestry that decorated a gothic pillar, and the dronish bell that summoned the fat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-wollstonecraft/man-preys-on-man-and-you-mourn-for-the-idle-tapestry-that-decorated-a/) [Mary Wollstonecraft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-wollstonecraft/) > [It's really a pity that there are observers who view political events like comic strips. There has to be a Zorro, there has to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sankara/it-s-really-a-pity-that-there-are-observers-who-view-political-events/) [Thomas Sankara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sankara/) > [Leisure without study is death, and the grave of a living man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/leisure-without-study-is-death-and-the-grave-of-a-living-man/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [Do you believe in luck, Ludlow?" I had thought about this more than once in my life. "I believe some poeple are luckier than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/do-you-believe-in-luck-ludlow-i-had-thought-about-this-more-than-once/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Man is a noble animal, splendid in ashes, and pompous in the grave.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-browne/man-is-a-noble-animal-splendid-in-ashes-and-pompous-in-the-grave/) [Thomas Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-browne/) > [That's wisdom you can take to the grave, and dig up when you need it!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-shusterman/that-s-wisdom-you-can-take-to-the-grave-and-dig-up-when-you-need-it/) [Neal Shusterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-shusterman/) > [I changed it. I had to. Do you know why?" She studied him, her eyes grave. "Because that was then and this is now.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/i-changed-it-i-had-to-do-you-know-why-she-studied-him-her-eyes-grave/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [The grave and the image are equally links with the irrecoverable and symbols for the unimaginable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-grave-and-the-image-are-equally-links-with-the-irrecoverable-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You can run from the grave, but you can't hide.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeaniene-frost/you-can-run-from-the-grave-but-you-can-t-hide/) [Jeaniene Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeaniene-frost/) > [This strongly asserted but ill-defined license to kill without accountability is not an entitlement which the United States or other states can have without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-alston/this-strongly-asserted-but-ill-defined-license-to-kill-without/) [Philip Alston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-alston/) [Browse all 1,727 Graves quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/graves/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The one who pursues revenge should dig two graves.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Allen C. 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