History Main / SuccessAsRevenge

* ''Fanfic/MariaCampbellOfTheAstralClocktower'': Sophia grew up an albino in a world where people take AlbinosAreFreaks to an extreme, typically assuming they're all just reincarnations of Seath the Scaleless, an evil albino dragon. She was completely friendless until she met Katarina as a teenager, and she managed to grow up as a happy, mostly well-adjusted woman. Then she becomes a founding partner of Nightflower Factory, the first fireworks factory in the country, where she is making lots of money from this new fad. She takes manic glee in charging all her old bullies (and everyone else, but especially the bullies) an obscene amount of money. She's especially amused at how quickly the court whispers about her turn from calling her "that scaleless freak" to "that ethereal beauty."

* ''WesternAnimation/GravityFalls'': In "[[Recap/GravityFallsS1E8IrrationalTreasure Irrational Treasure]]", [[Characters/GravityFallsMabelPines Mabel Pines]] decides not to spill the dirt on Pacifica's family cover-up as revenge for Pacifica calling her silly, because she has learned that "being silly is awesome" and no longer cares what Pacifica thinks. Immediately defied by her brother, who [[SpoofAesop "hasn't learned anything" and spills the dirt for her]].

Distinct from {{Forgiveness}} (though there can be overlap), this is when a character who ''could'' seek revenge instead chooses not to. Not because they forgive their enemy or understand them, or because they worry that revenge will turn out to be [[VengeanceFeelsEmpty ultimately unsatisfying]], or even because seeking revenge would be impractical. But simply because they know it's better for them to live their own life. They might rub it in their enemy's faces if they get the chance, though. Other times, while the character will never take revenge, the audience will be shown how the enemy [[LaserGuidedKarma ruined their life through their own actions]]. May overlap ThrivingExCrush.

Distinct from {{Forgiveness}} (though there can be overlap), this is when a character who ''could'' seek revenge instead chooses not to. Not because they forgive their enemy or understand them, or because they worry that revenge will turn out to be [[VengeanceFeelsEmpty ultimately unsatisfying]], or even because seeking revenge would be impractical. But simply because they know it's better for them to live their own life. They might rub it in their enemy's faces if they get the chance, though. Other times, while the character will never take revenge, the audience will be shown how the enemy [[LaserGuidedKarma ruined their life through their own actions]].

* ''VideoGame/AssassinsCreedII'': Ezio Auditore beats the ever-loving stuffing out of [[BigBad Rodrigo Borgia]], the man responsible for the murders of Ezio's father and brothers, in a final fistfight beneath the Vatican. Content to leave Rodrigo to wallow in his humiliating defeat, Ezio lets him live and attempts to retire. Defied in the ImmediateSequel ''VideoGame/AssassinsCreedBrotherhood'' when Rodrigo's son Cesare destroys Ezio's home on the first "official" day of his retirement, putting himself and Rodrigo at the top of Ezio's hit list.

* ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries'': Joker attempts to do this in the episode "[[Recap/TheNewBatmanAdventuresE7JokersMillions Joker's Millions]]", using his inheritance to clean up his reputation and live the high life right in Batman's face. Penguin even congratulates the normally erratic clown for making this decision. Unfortunately, the whole thing turns out to be a vicious last act of revenge against the Joker as most of the money turns out to be fake.
* ''WesternAnimation/GravityFalls'': In "[[Recap/GravityFallsS1E8IrrationalTreasure Irrational Treasure]]", Mabel decides not to spill the dirt on Pacifica's family cover-up as revenge for Pacifica calling her silly, because she has learned that "being silly is awesome" and no longer cares what Pacifica thinks. Immediately defied by her brother, who [[SpoofAesop "hasn't learned anything" and spills the dirt for her]].

Essentially an aversion of RevengeBeforeReason. Can also involve KnowWhenToFoldEm. Not uncommon to involve EvilCannotComprehendGood, as their enemy cannot understand why anyone ''wouldn't'' want revenge.

* ''Literature/TrappedInADatingSimTheWorldOfOtomeGamesIsToughForMobs'': In volume 1, after befriending both Livia and Angie, Leon advises them that the best revenge on their respective opponents (Livia's bullies, Angie's former fiance and his new girlfriend) is to be happy, because [[VengeanceFeelsEmpty directly taking revenge on somebody is too much work for too little gain]]. Leon's way, the other person will see you being happy despite them and it'll make them miserable.

* ''Webcomic/TheAdventuresOfDrMcNinja'': Franz Rayner [[http://drmcninja.com/archives/comic/5p20/ explains to Gordito]] that his genocide of the ninjas was a mix of this and the more conventional way of revenge because it (and the movies he made documenting the slaughter) got him fame and fortune.

[[folder: Film - Live Action]]

Distinct from {{Forgiveness}} (though there can be overlap), this is when a character who ''could'' seek revenge instead chooses not to. Not because they forgive their enemy or understand them, or because they worry that revenge will turn out to be [[VengeanceFeelsEmpty ultimately unsatisfying]], or even because seeking revenge would be impractical. But simply because they know it's better for themselves to live their own life. They might rub it in their enemy's faces if they get the chance, though. Other times, while the character will never take revenge, the audience will be shown how the enemy [[LaserGuidedKarma ruined their life through their own actions]].

* ''Fanfic/WishCarefully'': As Lucius bitterly notes, while the Death Eaters and other dark aligned figures are suffering in the Hell [[BeCarefulWhatYouWishFor that their own ideologies created]], Harry Potter, as well his fellow Light aligned friends and family, have been noted to be living it up in the new magical society they created in the Pacific Islands, with Harry being rumored to have fathered ''a dozen'' children. Voldemort was not happy when he learned about this and it only drove him further into AxCrazy madness.

* ''Literature/CradleSeries'': Lindon was spat on and mistreated his entire life by the people of Sacred Valley, who saw him as a cripple who couldn't do anything useful. He spent that life trying to make something of himself regardless, and never considered fighting back. When he discovered that a great catastrophe was coming, he left the Valley to train to become strong enough to defeat it. When he finally comes back, he tries to get all his old enemies to evacuate. They ''cannot'' understand why he would possibly want to help them, assume it's all a trick, and try to murder him multiple times.

[[folder:Live Action TV]]

* ''Series/{{Seinfeld}}'': Discussed in the episode "The Revenge". George quits his job and when he tries to return, the boss won't hire him back and tells him he's a loser. George plans to get him back by slipping a mickey. Jerry suggests the best revenge is to live well, but George says there's no chance of that. And later in the episode, Jerry does a stand-up scene where he talks about the concept. He states that it wouldn't work in a Creator/CharlesBronson movie and goes on a spiel where Bronson has his family killed by thugs. A person suggests to Bronson he should get a new car, a custom-made suit and a home makeover to get back at the thugs.

* ''VideoGame/AssassinsCreedII'': Ezio Auditore beats the ever loving stuffing out of [[BigBad Rodrigo Borgia]], the man responsible for the murders of Ezio's father and brothers, in a final fistfight beneath the Vatican. Content to leave Rodrigo to wallow in his humiliating defeat, Ezio lets him live and attempts to retire. Defied in the ImmediateSequel ''VideoGame/AssassinsCreedBrotherhood'' when Rodrigo's son Cesare destroys Ezio's home on the first "official" day of his retirement, putting himself and Rodrigo at the top of Ezio's hit list.

* ''WesternAnimation/MoralOrel:'' {{Implied|Trope}} in the DistantFinale. Orel never ''sought'' revenge on [[BigBad Clay]] for the [[AbusiveParents abuse and manipulation]] he endured throughout the series, but he got it anyway -- him and his brothers have grown up happy and successful, while his parents are still trapped in their miserable facade of a marriage.

[[/folder]]

Distinct from {{Forgiveness}} (though there can be overlap), this is when a character who ''could'' seek revenge instead chooses not to. Not because they forgive their enemy or understand them, or because they worry that revenge will turn out to be [[VengeanceFeelsEmpty ultimately unsatisfying]] or even because seeking revenge would be impractical. But simply because they know it's better for themselves to live their own life. They might rub it in their enemy's faces if they get the chance, though. Other times, while the character will never take revenge, the audience will be shown how the enemy [[LaserGuidedKarma ruined their life through their own actions]].

Distinct from {{Forgiveness}} (though there can be overlap), this is when a character who ''could'' seek revenge instead chooses not to. Not because they forgive their enemy or understand them, or even because seeking revenge would be impractical. But simply because they know it's better for themselves to live their own life. They might rub it in their enemy's faces if they get the chance, though. Other times, while the character will never take revenge, the audience will be shown how the enemy [[LaserGuidedKarma ruined their life through their own actions]].

->''"The best revenge is living well."''
-->-- '''Traditional'''

* ''WesternAnimation/GravityFalls'': In "[[Recap/GravityFallsS1E8IrrationalTreasure Irrational Treasure]]", Mabel decides not to spill the dirt on Pacifica's family cover-up as revenge for Pacifica calling her silly, because she has learned that "being silly is awesome" and no longer cares what Pacifica thinks. Immediately defied by her brother, who [[SpoofAesop "hasn't learned anything" and spills the dirt for her]].