quotations about anger
Anger is certainly a kind of baseness; as it appears well in the weakness of those subjects in whom it reigns; children, women, old folks, sick folks. Only men must beware, that they carry their anger rather with scorn, than with fear; so that they may seem rather to be above the injury, than below it; which is a thing easily done, if a man will give law to himself in it.
FRANCIS BACON
"Of Anger"
Anger comes sometimes upon us, but we go oftener to it, and, instead of rejecting it, we invite it: Yet it is a vice that carries with it neither pleasure nor profit, neither honour nor security.
WELLINS CALCOTT
Thoughts Moral and Divine
What we know about anger is that it inflates self-importance and builds a wall between genuine introspection and finding right action. Anger can be a useful signal, alerting us that something is amiss, but if we don't explore what truly makes us angry, anger isolates us from our heart's intelligence and our connection with others. Anger may be thrilling, but it also leaves us separate and alone.
ALAN BRISKIN
"How Demagogues Turn Anger Into Collective Poison: The Middle-Finger Party", Huffington Post, March 2, 2016
Fire hath its force abated by water, not by wind; and anger must be allayed by cold words, and not by blustering threats.
ANNE BRADSTREET
Meditations Divine and Moral
Anger is simply our way of reminding ourselves that we have a problem that needs attention.
FREDERIC LUSKIN
Forgive for Good
When anger rushes unrestrained to action, like a hot steed, it stumbles on its way; the man of thought strikes deepest and strikes safely.
R. SAVAGE
attributed, Day's Collacon
Not to be provok'd is best: But if mov'd, never correct till the fume is spent; for every stroke our fury strikes, is sure to hit our selves at last.
WILLIAM PENN
Some Fruits of Solitude
The wrath that on conviction subsides into mildness, is the wrath of a generous mind.
JOHANN KASPAR LAVATER
Aphorisms on Man
Anger can sometimes just be the loudest thing in the room. If there are other issues going on (spoiler alert: there are almost always other issues going on), these can be conveniently drowned out by the destructiveness and imperativeness of the anger. I say "conveniently" because anger is often the easiest emotion to notice and to deal with. It's also perhaps the scariest.
JUSTIN LIOI
"The Misunderstood Emotion: Getting to Know Your Anger", Good Therapy, March 9, 2016
When we are angry, our anger is our very self. To suppress or chase away our anger is to suppress or chase away ourselves. When anger is born, we can be aware that anger is an energy in us, and we can change that energy into another kind of energy. If we want to transform it, first we have to know how to accept it.
THICH NHAT HANH
Savor
To contain anger from mischief, though it take hold of a man, there be two things, whereof you must have special caution. The one, of extreme bitterness of words, especially if they be aculeate and proper; for cummunia maledicta are nothing so much; and again, that in anger a man reveal no secrets; for that, makes him not fit for society. The other, that you do not peremptorily break off, in any business, in a fit of anger; but howsoever you show bitterness, do not act anything, that is not revocable.
FRANCIS BACON
"Of Anger", The Essays or Counsels, Civil and Moral