---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If revenge is a dish best served cold…"
description: "\"“If revenge is a dish best served cold, then knowledge is a dish best left untouched.”\" — Jill Archer"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/447/jill-archer-82880_revenge_if-revenge-is-a-dish-best-served-cold-th_1929684.jpg"
---

#  If revenge is a dish best served cold, then knowledge is a…

![“If revenge is a dish best served cold, then knowledge is a dish best left untouched.” quote by Jill Archer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/447/jill-archer-82880_revenge_if-revenge-is-a-dish-best-served-cold-th_1929684.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/447/jill-archer-82880_revenge_if-revenge-is-a-dish-best-served-cold-th_1929684.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/447/jill-archer-82880_revenge_if-revenge-is-a-dish-best-served-cold-th_1929684.jpg)

> ““If revenge is a dish best served cold, then knowledge is a dish best left untouched.””

[Jill Archer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-archer/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The saying suggests that while revenge is often delayed for strategic effect, knowledge should remain untouched, implying that some information is best left unused.

**In simple terms:** Knowledge, like revenge, may be better left unused.

Key Takeaway

Consider withholding information when it could cause harm.

Themes

patience wisdom restraint

Mood

cautionary thought‑provoking

Type

ethical philosophical

When to use this quote

- strategic silence
- conflict resolution
- information overload

Key Concepts

knowledge management ethical decision‑making

Questions to Reflect On

- When is it appropriate to share knowledge?
- What risks arise from withholding information?

A Different Perspective

Leaving knowledge unused can hinder progress or learning.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Cold Knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cold-knowledge-3012970/) [Knowledge Dish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge-dish-3012971/) [Revenge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/revenge/) [Revenge Dish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/revenge-dish-316282/) [Served Cold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/served-cold-506753/)

## 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/)

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> [“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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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/)

> [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/)

> [“If revenge is a dish best served cold, confession should be dished up piping hot or not at all.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-kelly/if-revenge-is-a-dish-best-served-cold-confession-should-be-dished-up/)

[Erin Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-kelly/)

> [“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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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 Jill Archer

> [“Falling thirty-three stories wasn't nearly as frightening as falling in love.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-archer/falling-thirty-three-stories-wasn-t-nearly-as-frightening-as-falling/)

[Jill Archer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-archer/)

> [“Noon, do you have any idea how madly ”—he pressed his lips against the skin just behind my ear—“ deeply ”—I shivered as he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-archer/noon-do-you-have-any-idea-how-madly-he-pressed-his-lips-against-the/)

[Jill Archer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-archer/)

[Explore all 3 Jill Archer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-archer/)

## 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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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/)

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