...best served cold

Posted by Smokey Stover on June 01, 2005

In Reply to: ...best served cold posted by ESC on May 31, 2005

: : What's the origin of the phrase revenue is a dessert best served cold? What does it mean?

: Revenge is a dish best served cold.

: From the archives:
: Pierre Ambroise Francois Choderios de LaClos (1741-1803). He originally said it in French in his 1782 book Les Liasons Dangereuses: "La vengeance est un plat qui se mange froid."

: It means it is best to get revenge on an enemy after some time has past after the offense. You are calmer and can enjoy his suffering more.

They keep making movies based on Les Liaisons Dangereuses by Choderlos de Laclos, but actually I rarely see his name in print. I tried reading the book and saw the movies, one starring Glenn Close, the other, as Cruel Intentions, starring Sarah Michelle Geller. I think there's another either out or in the works. The subject matter is pretty repugnant, but the saying, that revenge is best served cold, sounds absolutely right for LaClos. SS