"A man that studieth revenge keeps his own wounds green"

Francis Bacon suggests that harboring thoughts of revenge perpetuates an individual’s suffering rather than alleviating it. When a person fixates on retaliation, the original pain inflicted by another is not allowed to heal. Instead, by continually nurturing feelings of anger and the desire for payback, the individual revisits the initial wound, preventing emotional or psychological recovery. The imagery of keeping a wound “green” evokes the idea of a hurt that remains fresh, raw, and unhealed. Rather than allowing time and acceptance to dry the sore and form a protective scar, dwelling on vengeance only keeps the source of pain exposed and tender.

Moreover, this behavior is ultimately self-destructive. While the motivation for revenge may arise from a sense of justice or balance, fueling such desires often consumes a person’s energy and focus. Instead of moving forward and finding resolution, the wronged party becomes trapped in a cycle that revolves around the injury, giving continued power to the person or event that caused harm in the first place. The bitterness of holding onto resentment stunts personal growth and distances one from peace and contentment.

There is also an implicit moral insight; by keeping wounds “green,” the individual chooses to prolong suffering in the pursuit of something that may never bring true satisfaction. Even if revenge is achieved, it may offer only fleeting relief, leaving the underlying hurt unresolved. Thus, the continuous study and pursuit of revenge tie the individual’s well-being to negativity and the actions of others.

Ultimately, Bacon’s aphorism delivers a cautionary message about the cost of revenge to the person who seeks it. Emotional wounds, like physical ones, require care, time, and often forgiveness to heal. By letting go of vengeance, one grants themselves the possibility for recovery and freeing themselves from the burdens of past wrongs, while nurturing revenge fastens oneself to ongoing pain.