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I was angry with my friend: I told my wrath, my wrath did end. I was angry with my foe: I told it not, my wrath did grow.
William Blake
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Interpretation

What this quote means

Expressing anger can lessen its hold on you, while suppressing it can lead to its growth.

William Blake's quote highlights the importance of communicating one's feelings, particularly anger, in relationships. The contrast between expressing anger towards a friend and keeping it bottled up towards a foe illustrates how unexpressed emotions can fester and expand, potentially leading to larger issues in interpersonal dynamics. This underscores the value of openness and honesty in both friendships and rivalries.

Themes

AngerFriendshipCommunicationEmotionsRelationships

In practice

Example use cases

In a discussion about managing conflicts, this quote serves as a reminder to express feelings openly.

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