Anger is one of the most basic human emotions, and is a natural response to feeling that we have been wronged in some way. If anger is recognized, felt, and expressed in an appropriate manner, it can then usually be released.

Anger itself is not a negative emotion. It is a very pure emotion as these two anger quotes express. Marcus Aurelius states, "Anger cannot be dishonest." However, if anger is suppressed, it can escalate into rage, or harden into resentment or bitterness. Maya Angelou describes the difference between the purity of anger and the danger of bitterness as follows; “Bitterness is like cancer. It eats upon the host. But anger is like fire. It burns it all clean.”

Some anger quotes point out the importance of allowing ourselves to feel our anger rather than pretending to ourselves and others that we aren’t angry when we are. As Colin Powell so succinctly puts it, “Get mad, then get over it,” and Phyllis Diller’s advice is, “Never go to bed mad. Stay up and fight.”

Other anger quotes focus on the harm that holding on to our anger can create in our lives and our relationships. Dr. Joyce Brothers points out the damage that can be caused to our relationships in failing to acknowledge our anger by stating that, “Anger repressed can poison a relationship as surely as the cruelest words.” Barbara Angelis tells us that, "The more anger towards the past you carry in your heart, the less capable you are of loving in the present."

The following two anger quotes clearly illustrate that often we are only hurting ourselves by refusing to let go of anger. According to Malachy McCourt, “Resentment is like taking poison and waiting for the other person to die.” In the words of Buddha, “Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burned.”

It is very important to realize that anger must be felt and expressed before it can be released. The next two anger quotes point out how ventilating or ‘feeding’ our anger can lead to its transformation or ‘death,’ but how concealing or ‘starving’ the anger can harden or ‘fatten’ it.

“Anger ventilated often hurries toward forgiveness; and concealed often hardens into revenge.” Edward G. Bulwer-Lytton

“Anger as soon as fed is dead - 'Tis starving makes it fat.” Emily Dickinson

Adam Appleson talks about the natural and healthy instinct we have as infants to release our anger – repression is a learned behavior, and one that we would be wise to work at unlearning. Appleson says, “You know why babies don't hold grudges? Because when you make them mad they let you hear it. That's how you heal emotionally. Acknowledge your anger and have a good scream about it.”

If those of us who are parents heed the words of Lyman Abbott, our own children will have a lot less repression to unlearn. Abbott advises, “Do not teach your children never to be angry; teach them how to be angry.”

‘How to be angry’ is extremely important, and these final anger quotes describe some healthy ways of managing anger.

"The best remedy for a short temper is a long walk." Joseph Joubert

"It is wise to direct your anger towards problems - not people; to focus your energies on answers - not excuses." William Arthur Ward

“Your anger is like a flower. In the beginning you may not understand the nature of your anger, or why it has come up. But if you know how to embrace it with the energy of mindfulness, it will begin to open. You may be sitting, following your breathing, or you may be practicing walking meditation to generate the energy of mindfulness and embrace your anger. After ten or twenty minutes your anger will have to open herself to you, and suddenly, you will see the true nature of your anger. It may have arisen just because of a wrong perception or the lack of skillfulness.” Thich Nhat Hanh

Anger quotes contain wise and powerful insights and reminders into the true nature of anger, and provide guidance on acknowledging, expressing and releasing our anger in ways that uplift and heal.

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