Francis Bacon. (1561–1626). Essays, Civil and Moral.The Harvard Classics. 1909–14.

LVII

Of Anger

TO seek to extinguish anger utterly is but a bravery 1 of the Stoics. We have better oracles: Be angry, but sin not. Let not the sun go down upon your anger. Anger must be limited and confined both in race and in time. We will first speak how the natural inclination and habit to be angry may be attempered and calmed. Secondly, how the particular motions of anger may be repressed, or at least refrained from doing mischief. Thirdly, how to raise anger or appease anger in another.

For the first; there is no other way but to meditate and ruminate well upon the effects of anger, how it troubles man’s life. And the best time to do this is to look back upon anger when the fit is thoroughly over. Seneca saith well, That anger is like ruin, which breaks itself upon that it falls. The Scripture exhorteth us to possess our souls in patience. Whosoever is out of patience, is out of possession of his soul. Men must not turn bees;

…animasque in vulnere ponunt

Note 1. Boast. [back]

Note 2. Stinging. [back]

Note 3. Personal. [back]

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