This chilling piece of wisdom, famously uttered by Don Corleone in The Godfather, feels ancient and timeless. It suggests that vengeance is more satisfying when enacted deliberately and without passion. True retribution, the saying implies, requires patience and a clear head. However, the origin of this proverb is not found in ancient texts or the lore of mafiosos. Instead, its journey begins in 19th-century French literature, capturing a piece of folk wisdom that would soon travel the world.
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The Proverb’s Literary Debut
The earliest documented appearance of this phrase comes from an 1841 French novel. Eugène Sue‘s Mathilde: Mémoires D’une Jeune Femme first put the saying to paper. In the story, a character contemplates his hatred for another and decides to wait. He explains, “la vengeance se mange très-bien froide,” which translates to “revenge is very good eaten cold.” Significantly, the character adds, “as they say vulgarly.” This small note is crucial. It shows that Sue was not inventing the phrase but rather recording a proverb already circulating among the common people of France. Source
This clever piece of folk wisdom quickly found an international audience. In July 1842, The Foreign Quarterly Review discussed Sue’s novel. The English critic chose to keep the phrase in its original French. This decision highlighted its foreign charm for English-speaking readers. The saying had officially crossed the channel.
Anglicization and Adaptation
It did not take long for the proverb to take root in the English language. By 1846, author Ann S. Stephens used an anglicized version in her work. She wrote, “I must wait – revenge can be eaten cold.” That same year, a full English translation of Sue’s novel was published. It rendered the line as “revenge is very good eaten cold, as the vulgar say.” This cemented the phrase’s place in English literature. The proverb was no longer just a French saying; it was becoming a universal concept, easily understood and appreciated by a new audience.
The Creation of a Mythical Past
Interestingly, Eugène Sue | French author | Britannica himself later contributed to confusion about the saying’s origins. In his 1847 work, Les Sept Péchés Capitaux (The Seven Deadly Sins), he attributed the proverb to ancient Rome. A character in this novel declares it a “proverbe romain.” This claim, however, has no historical basis. Scholars have found no evidence of such a proverb in Roman texts. Sue likely invented this prestigious origin to give the saying more weight and authority in his narrative. It was a creative embellishment that would start a long tradition of misattribution.
This false history was quickly adopted. When an English translation appeared in 1848, the line read, “vengeance should be eaten cold, as the Roman proverb says.” The myth had taken hold. It demonstrates how easily a compelling phrase can acquire a fictional pedigree. People wanted to believe this piece of wisdom was ancient.
. Eugene Sue | French novelist | Britannica
A Proverb Claimed by Many Nations
As the proverb spread, various cultures and historical figures became associated with it. This shows how different groups sought to claim this powerful idea as their own. In 1879, a French writer credited the statesman Charles de Talleyrand with the saying. Later, in 1885, a biography of German Chancellor Otto von Bismarck suggested he lived by this philosophy. The author noted Bismarck’s intent to “eat the dish of his revenge cold instead of hot.”
Furthermore, another historical romance portrayed Austrian statesman Klemens von Metternich using the phrase. He supposedly called it “an excellent Italian proverb.” These attributions to French, German, and Italian leaders were almost certainly added after the fact. Nevertheless, they became accepted as truth over time. By 1913, a Washington newspaper confidently stated, “Revenge, said Bismarck, is a delicacy that should be eaten cold.” The false attributions had become accepted facts in the public mind.
Modern Fame in Popular Culture
The 20th century solidified the proverb’s status as a piece of established wisdom. H. L. Mencken included it in his 1942 New Dictionary of Quotations. He correctly classified it as an “English proverb, not recorded before the XIX century.” This provided scholarly recognition of its more recent origins. However, it was popular culture that launched the phrase into global fame.
Mario Puzo’s 1969 novel, The Godfather, gave the saying one of its most memorable deliveries. Don Corleone’s line, “Revenge is a dish that tastes best when it is cold,” introduced it to millions. Subsequently, the 1982 film Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan gave it an interstellar twist. The villain, Khan, attributes it to a Klingon proverb, stating, “revenge is a dish that is best served cold.” He then adds, “It is very cold in space.” This iconic scene cemented the phrase in the minds of a new generation. From French folk wisdom to a Klingon motto, the saying’s journey shows its enduring and universal appeal.