When a man steals your wife, there is no better revenge than to let him keep her.

In this quote, Sacha Guitry, a French playwright and actor, humorously suggests that the best form of revenge when a man steals your wife is to let him keep her. The underlying idea is that by not reacting out of anger or resentment, and instead allowing the other man to deal with the consequences of his actions, you are in a sense allowing him to inherit the problem. Guitry implies that a woman who leaves her husband for another man may eventually bring trouble and unhappiness into her new relationship, and that letting the man "keep" her is a more effective form of revenge than seeking out confrontation or vengeance.

Guitry’s words carry a certain irony and wit, suggesting that the best way to respond to betrayal is not through direct conflict but by letting time and circumstance play out. By keeping your emotional distance and allowing the situation to unfold on its own, you indirectly suggest that the new relationship will not bring the happiness the man may be expecting. It's a clever way of asserting that true vindication doesn’t always come from retaliation but from observing how others handle the consequences of their actions.

This quote also reflects Guitry’s view on relationships, especially the idea that sometimes the best way to handle betrayal is with a level of detachment and humor. Rather than engaging in a heated dispute or seeking revenge, he advises that stepping back and letting the situation run its course is often the wisest approach. The implication is that relationships are often more complicated than they appear, and what may seem like a victory for one party might soon reveal itself as a burden.

Ultimately, Guitry’s quote uses humor and irony to reflect on the nature of revenge and betrayal. It challenges the traditional notion of seeking justice or satisfaction through direct confrontation, offering instead a more subtle and calm form of retaliation. In doing so, Guitry highlights the idea that sometimes, the best revenge is simply to let the situation play out, leaving the wrongdoer to face the consequences of their actions.