“Revenge is profitable, gratitude is expensive.”

Though I understand the realm to which the author here is reaching, it still gets a thumbs down. Revenge, such as, ousting a tyrant that temporarily lessoned oil profits falls into the statement "For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?" Gratitude is a function of the higher being, available as an expression of the truly free at heart, mind, and self. When was the last time your senses were filled full with being grateful ? - priceless !

Good thought Mike, I'm grateful everytime I look at my family in my home. Grateful that I was given the ability to create this situation. Oddly though...whenever I see what our governments are doing to us, I have some abstract thoughts of revenge...go figure. :) Fortunately for me though, I am a peaceful man.

If gratitude is expensive-then it's a price I'm willing to pay.

He has a point if you read "History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire Volume 1" you would understand the thread of this quote.

It's quite sad to reflect generally on the long history of mankind as being replete with examples as he alludes to, and esp. when today, we have a chance to change that attitude for something better to generally benefit all mankind at least once in a while to whatever extent we ourselves might choose; but as we know, those at the top are committing acts, just as he says, in the most adulterous ways they can as our liberties and livelihoods are increasingly taken from us and our progeny.

Makes no sense to me. The Middle Eastern societies thrive on the concept of revenge and they are among the craziest people on the face of the earth. If your wife is looked upon by a male other than in your family, you must kill him. When you kill that man, his family is blood-bound to kill you or someone from your family. Where is the profit in that? How is gratitude expensive? A simple thank you is enough for most people, at least in my world.