"Revenge is profitable, gratitude is expensive"

Edward Gibbon’s observation, “Revenge is profitable, gratitude is expensive,” captures the paradox of human motivations and society’s subtle reward systems. Revenge, often seen as a primal response to wrongs, becomes “profitable” in a psychological sense: it satisfies ego, rebalances perceived injustice, and sometimes secures respect or deterrence within certain social frameworks. Acts of vengeance are frequently driven by a sense that personal honor or reputation will be restored. In many historical and cultural contexts, the avenger ascends in the eyes of peers, gaining status, influence, and even tangible benefits, if only temporarily. The “profit” is both emotional, soothing an aggrieved soul, and practical in social scenarios where displays of strength and retribution offer security.

Conversely, gratitude is deemed “expensive,” not because it costs money, but because it demands humility, vulnerability, and often, reciprocity. Genuinely expressing gratitude acknowledges dependence, breaking the illusion of self-sufficiency and control. Thankfulness binds people in obligations, moral, social, or emotional, to return kindness or reassess previous power dynamics. For the proud or powerful, this expense is significant; to express gratitude can feel like yielding ground, admitting a debt, revealing need. Relationships rooted in gratitude carry ongoing, sometimes burdensome, expectations; a benefactor may await repayment or loyalty. In many social hierarchies, gratitude subverts personal autonomy more than revenge ever would.

Gibbon wryly highlights how societies, individuals, and even institutions find it easier to indulge reprisal than to practice appreciation. The fleeting, cathartic payoff of revenge entices more than the long-term, quietly demanding work of thankfulness. His words expose a darker truth: often, the world values strength and self-assertion over humility and interconnectedness, rewarding those who reclaim pride, not those who nurture bonds. Ultimately, Gibbon’s aphorism invites critical reflection on what is truly profitable in life, not just materially, but morally and relationally.