A person of honor should seek revenge for wrongs done to them; otherwise, they lack integrity. This is a traditional, somewhat aggressive view of justice.
This saying comes from the chivalric (wuxia) tradition and is often cited in martial arts stories. However, modern Chinese culture often criticizes this as too vindictive, and it's used with irony or caution.
It taps into the concept of 'face' (面子) and personal dignity. In traditional culture, not responding to an insult could be seen as weakness, so this saying justifies retaliation to restore social standing. Today, it's often used more figuratively than literally.
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