During chaotic times when we are troubled, we only need to look to the Saints. Their words of wisdom can guide us through rough times. The following quotes are insights into how they delt with anger.
1. Imagine your anger to be a kind of wild beast, because it has ferocious teeth and claws, and if you don’t tame it, it will devastate all things, even corrupting the soul.
2. He who is not angry when there is just cause for anger is immoral. Why? Because anger looks to the good of justice, and if you can live amid injustice without anger, you are immoral as well as unjust.
3. Hope has two lovely daughters, anger and courage…Anger at the way things are and Courage to see that they do not remain as they are.
4. Anger is a weed; hate is a tree.
5. There was never an angry man that thought his anger unjust.
6. When you are angry with someone, the way to find peace is to pray for that person and ask God to reward him or her for making you suffer!
7. He who continues in anger, strife, and a bitter spirit, has a tast of the air of Hell.
8. As long as anger lives, she continues to be the fruitful mother of many unhappy children.
St. John Climacus
9. There is no sin, nor wrong that gives man such a foretaste of Hell in this life as anger and impatience.
10. If we lived in a state where virtue was profitable, common sense would make us saintly. But since we see that avarice, anger, pride and stupidity commonly profit far beyond charity, modesty, justice and thought, perhaps we must stand fast a little, even at risk of being heroes.
11. It is better to cry than to be angry, because anger hurts others while tears flow silently through the soul and cleans the heart.
12. Many a man curses the rain that falls upon his head and knows not that it brings abundance to drive away the hunger.
13. Resentment is like drinking poison and waiting for the other person to die.
14. Where there is schism and anger, there is no place for God.
15. It avails nothing to subdue the body, if the mind allows itself to be controlled by Anger.
16. A soul arms itself with prayer for all kinds of combat.
17. You will accomplish more by kind words and a courteous manner than by anger or sharp rebuke, which should never be used except in necessity.
18. When you feel the assault of passion and anger, then is the time to be silent as Jesus was silent in the midst of His sufferings.
19. Virtues are formed by prayer, Prayer preserves temperance. Prayer suppresses anger. Prayer prevents emotions of pride and envy. Prayer draws into the soul the Holy Spirit and raises man to Heaven.
20. Anger is as a stone into a wasp’s nest.
St. Pope Paul VI
21. No matter what provokes it, anger blinds the soul’s eyes, preventing it from seeing the Son of Righteousness
St John Cassian
22. The memory of insults is the residue of anger.
23. Pride is the king of vices. It is the first of pallbearers of the soul…other vices destroy only their opposite virtues, as wantonness destroys chastity, greed destroys temperance, anger destroys gentleness, but pride destroys all virtue.
24. It is better to remain silent than to speak the truth ill-humoredly, and spoil an excellent dish by covering it with bad sauce.
25. Are you angry? Be angry at your sins, beat your soul, afflict your conscience, but strict in judgement and a terrible punisher of your own sins. This is the benefit of anger, wherefore God placed it in us.
