--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If revenge is a dish best served cold…" description: "\"“If revenge is a dish best served cold, confession should be dished up piping hot or not at all.”\" — Erin Kelly" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a77/erin-kelly-28365_revenge_if-revenge-is-a-dish-best-served-cold-co_1850953.jpg" --- # If revenge is a dish best served cold, confession should… ![“If revenge is a dish best served cold, confession should be dished up piping hot or not at all.” quote by Erin Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a77/erin-kelly-28365_revenge_if-revenge-is-a-dish-best-served-cold-co_1850953.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a77/erin-kelly-28365_revenge_if-revenge-is-a-dish-best-served-cold-co_1850953.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a77/erin-kelly-28365_revenge_if-revenge-is-a-dish-best-served-cold-co_1850953.jpg) > ““If revenge is a dish best served cold, confession should be dished up piping hot or not at all.”” [Erin Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-kelly/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Cold revenge is calculated, while confession should be immediate or avoided entirely. **In simple terms:** Revenge is patient; confession must be swift. Key Takeaway Choose honesty over delayed retaliation. Themes ethics communication conflict resolution psychology justice Mood reflective cautious thoughtful Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - personal disputes - legal negotiations - team feedback - relationship counseling Key Concepts moral philosophy interpersonal dynamics emotional intelligence Questions to Reflect On - When is honesty more powerful than revenge? - What risks arise from delayed confession? A Different Perspective Cold revenge can perpetuate cycles of harm. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Revenge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/revenge/) ## Related quotes > [Like vichyssoise, revenge is a dish best served cold.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-fry/like-vichyssoise-revenge-is-a-dish-best-served-cold/) [Stephen Fry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-fry/) > [“Revenge was a dish best served cold.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-stuart/revenge-was-a-dish-best-served-cold/) [Anne Stuart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-stuart/) > [“She remembered a saying that revenge was a dish that was best served cold.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-a-salnikova/she-remembered-a-saying-that-revenge-was-a-dish-that-was-best-served/) Natasha A Salnikova > [“Revenge is a dish best served cold. I never used to understand that saying, but I think I finally get it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/revenge-is-a-dish-best-served-cold-i-never-used-to-understand-that/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) > [Another old saying is that revenge is a dish best served cold. But it feels best served piping hot, straight out of the oven…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mindy-kaling/another-old-saying-is-that-revenge-is-a-dish-best-served-cold-but-it-2/) [Mindy Kaling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mindy-kaling/) > [Revenge is a dish that tastes best when served cold.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-puzo/revenge-is-a-dish-that-tastes-best-when-served-cold/) [Mario Puzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-puzo/) > [“If revenge is a dish best served cold, then knowledge is a dish best left untouched.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-archer/if-revenge-is-a-dish-best-served-cold-then-knowledge-is-a-dish-best/) Jill Archer > [Revenge is a dish that is best served cold.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-choderlos-de-laclos/revenge-is-a-dish-that-is-best-served-cold/) [Pierre Choderlos de Laclos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-choderlos-de-laclos/) > [“Revenge is a dish best served cold but Mama prefers to serve it with hot gravy, potatoes, and roast turkey.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-dunne/revenge-is-a-dish-best-served-cold-but-mama-prefers-to-serve-it-with/) [Jonathan Dunne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-dunne/) > [Revenge is a dish best served cold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/revenge-is-a-dish-best-served-cold/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Revenge is a dish best served cold. – Precious”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-o/revenge-is-a-dish-best-served-cold-precious/) Mike O > [“You know how they say revenge is best served up cold? I'd say it's best not served up at all. Revenge is a great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-hopkins/you-know-how-they-say-revenge-is-best-served-up-cold-i-d-say-it-s/) [Ellen Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-hopkins/) > [“There was no doubt in my mind that Daemon believed revenge was a dish best served in my face.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-l-armentrout/there-was-no-doubt-in-my-mind-that-daemon-believed-revenge-was-a-dish/) [Jennifer L. Armentrout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-l-armentrout/) > [Revenge is a dish best served unexpectedly and from a distance - like a thrown trifle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-hardinge/revenge-is-a-dish-best-served-unexpectedly-and-from-a-distance-like-a/) [Frances Hardinge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-hardinge/) > [Revenge is a dish better severed cold.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sushan/revenge-is-a-dish-better-severed-cold/) [Sushan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sushan/) ## More by Erin Kelly > [“If I waited for a proper occasion to dress up, I'd never wear half of these clothes. Put on the clothes and you make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-kelly/if-i-waited-for-a-proper-occasion-to-dress-up-i-d-never-wear-half-of/) [Erin Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-kelly/) > [“When anxiety wins, the mad part of me peels away from the rational one. My”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-kelly/when-anxiety-wins-the-mad-part-of-me-peels-away-from-the-rational-one/) [Erin Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-kelly/) > [“Leibniz said, Music is the mind counting without being conscious it’s counting. An eclipse is maths; it’s the most beautiful maths there is.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-kelly/leibniz-said-music-is-the-mind-counting-without-being-conscious-it-s/) [Erin Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-kelly/) > [“that's the thing with secrets. They're leaky; you can't decide to share the bits that suit you without a million questions oozing out. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-kelly/that-s-the-thing-with-secrets-they-re-leaky-you-can-t-decide-to-share/) [Erin Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-kelly/) > [“but there is something of her in me; I feel it, behind my ribs. I like to think of it as all the love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-kelly/but-there-is-something-of-her-in-me-i-feel-it-behind-my-ribs-i-like/) [Erin Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-kelly/) > [A good mother loves fiercely but ultimately brings up her children to thrive without her.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-kelly/a-good-mother-loves-fiercely-but-ultimately-brings-up-her-children-to/) [Erin Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-kelly/) > [“The stress hormones of adrenaline and cortisol, when pumped in sufficient quantity, rival anything you can smoke or swallow. Within a year of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-kelly/the-stress-hormones-of-adrenaline-and-cortisol-when-pumped-in/) [Erin Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-kelly/) > [“The moment you think about an act in terms of how, you are already halfway to doing it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-kelly/the-moment-you-think-about-an-act-in-terms-of-how-you-are-already/) [Erin Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-kelly/) > [“It’s Hardy’s idea of hell – fresh air, isolation, grass, never-ending sky – but he knows that the world’s full of idiots who love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-kelly/it-s-hardy-s-idea-of-hell-fresh-air-isolation-grass-never-ending-sky/) [Erin Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-kelly/) > [“Don’t you think it’s more important how you treat the person next to you?’ I asked.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-kelly/don-t-you-think-it-s-more-important-how-you-treat-the-person-next-to/) [Erin Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-kelly/) > [“Waiting for something horrible to happen is almost more draining than it actually happening.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-kelly/waiting-for-something-horrible-to-happen-is-almost-more-draining-than/) [Erin Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-kelly/) > [“I know from my own counselling that anger always has hurt at its core.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-kelly/i-know-from-my-own-counselling-that-anger-always-has-hurt-at-its-core/) [Erin Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-kelly/) > [“When you only have one vanity, I think you’re allowed to indulge it.)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-kelly/when-you-only-have-one-vanity-i-think-you-re-allowed-to-indulge-it/) [Erin Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-kelly/) > [A good mother loves fiercely but ultimately brings up her children to thrive without her. They must be the most important thing in her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-kelly/a-good-mother-loves-fiercely-but-ultimately-brings-up-her-children-to-2/) [Erin Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-kelly/) > [“Grief is like a splinter deep into every fingertip; to touch anything is torture.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-kelly/grief-is-like-a-splinter-deep-into-every-fingertip-to-touch-anything/) [Erin Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-kelly/) [Explore all 19 Erin Kelly quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-kelly/) ## More Revenge quotes > [There is a spirit which I feel that delights to do no evil, nor to revenge any wrong, but delights to endure all things,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-nayler/there-is-a-spirit-which-i-feel-that-delights-to-do-no-evil-nor-to/) James Nayler > [“The best way to take revenge of me is to make me see you successful.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-s-jagadeesh-kumar/the-best-way-to-take-revenge-of-me-is-to-make-me-see-you-successful/) [P.S. Jagadeesh Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-s-jagadeesh-kumar/) > [Revenge is a dish better severed cold.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sushan/revenge-is-a-dish-better-severed-cold/) [Sushan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sushan/) > [The best revenge in the world is success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suge-knight/the-best-revenge-in-the-world-is-success/) [Suge Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suge-knight/) > [And, re-assembling our afflicted powers, consult how we may henceforth most offend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/and-re-assembling-our-afflicted-powers-consult-how-we-may-henceforth/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [Life appears to me too short to be spent in nursing animosity, or registering wrongs. With this creed, revenge never worries my heart, degradation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/life-appears-to-me-too-short-to-be-spent-in-nursing-animosity-or/) [Charlotte Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) > [How could a readiness for war in time of peace be safely prohibited, unless we could prohibit, in like manner, the preparations and establishments…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/how-could-a-readiness-for-war-in-time-of-peace-be-safely-prohibited/) [James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/) > [Convulsive anger storms at large; or pale And silent, settles into full revenge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-tillotson/convulsive-anger-storms-at-large-or-pale-and-silent-settles-into-full/) [John Tillotson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-tillotson/) > [If you put together all the ingredients that naturally attract children - sex, violence, revenge, spectacle and vigorous noise - what you have is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-martin/if-you-put-together-all-the-ingredients-that-naturally-attract/) [Judith Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-martin/) > [If someone steals my man, there's no better revenge than letting her keep him. A real man can't be stolen unless he wants to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/if-someone-steals-my-man-there-s-no-better-revenge-than-letting-her/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [The best revenge is to be unlike him who performed the injury.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/the-best-revenge-is-to-be-unlike-him-who-performed-the-injury/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [But I believed in starting over. There was finally, I knew, only rupture and hurt and falling short between all persons, but, Shirley, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorrie-moore/but-i-believed-in-starting-over-there-was-finally-i-knew-only-rupture/) [Lorrie Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorrie-moore/) > [As I predicted, young people who overwhelmingly didn't want Brexit have turned out in their droves and exacted revenge on a generation of Leavers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-soubry/as-i-predicted-young-people-who-overwhelmingly-didn-t-want-brexit/) [Anna Soubry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-soubry/) > [I am not vindictive, but very forgiving. Despite being wronged, I never took revenge on anyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rituparna-sengupta/i-am-not-vindictive-but-very-forgiving-despite-being-wronged-i-never/) [Rituparna Sengupta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rituparna-sengupta/) > [“the human is offered a choice: they can get revenge on me, or they can accept their pain and continue their journey”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tobias-wade/the-human-is-offered-a-choice-they-can-get-revenge-on-me-or-they-can/) [Tobias Wade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tobias-wade/) [Browse all 2,625 Revenge quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/revenge/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“If revenge is a dish best served cold, confession should be dished up piping hot or not at all.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Erin Kelly" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-kelly/if-revenge-is-a-dish-best-served-cold-confession-should-be-dished-up/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Revenge" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-kelly/if-revenge-is-a-dish-best-served-cold-confession-should-be-dished-up/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a77/erin-kelly-28365_revenge_if-revenge-is-a-dish-best-served-cold-co_1850953.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a77/erin-kelly-28365_revenge_if-revenge-is-a-dish-best-served-cold-co_1850953.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a77/erin-kelly-28365_revenge_if-revenge-is-a-dish-best-served-cold-co_1850953.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If revenge is a dish best served cold, confession should be dished up piping hot or not at all.” — Erin Kelly", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Erin Kelly", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-kelly/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“If revenge is a dish best...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-kelly/if-revenge-is-a-dish-best-served-cold-confession-should-be-dished-up/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-kelly/if-revenge-is-a-dish-best-served-cold-confession-should-be-dished-up/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```