Of Revenge, Francis Bacon: Line by Line Explanation

1. "Revenge is a kind of wild justice; which the more man’s nature runs to, the more ought law to weed it out. For as for the first wrong, it doth but offend the law; but the revenge of that wrong, putteth the law out of office. 2. Certainly, in taking revenge, a man is but even with his enemy; but in passing it over, he is superior; for it is a prince’s part to pardon. And Solomon, I am sure, saith, It is the glory of a man, to pass by an offence. 3. That which is past is gone, and irrevocable; and wise men have enough to do, with things present and to come; therefore they do but trifle with themselves, that labor in past matters." In the essay "Of Revenge," Sir Francis Bacon discusses the nature of revenge, the superiority of forgiveness, and the futility of dwelling on past matters. Explanation: 1. Revenge is described as a form of untamed justice, and Bacon suggests that the more people incline towards revenge, the more society should work to eliminate this ins…