Nothing is improved by anger, unless it be the arch of a cat's back. A man with his back up is spoiling his figure. People look none the handsomer for being red in the face. It takes a great deal out of a man to get into a towering rage; it is almost as unhealthy as having a fit. . . . Whatever wrong I suffer, it can not do me half so much hurt as being angry about it.
Interpretation
Anger does not improve situations and can harm the person feeling it more than the situation itself.
In this quote, Charles Spurgeon warns against the destructive nature of anger, suggesting that allowing oneself to become angry not only fails to remedy any wrongs but also deteriorates one's well-being. Spurgeon uses vivid imagery to convey that anger not only affects one's outward appearance but can also drain emotional and physical energy, ultimately asserting that the negative impact of anger is far greater than the initial issue that triggered it.
In practice
In a professional setting when discussing conflict resolution.
Amusement should be used to do us good “like a medicine”: it must never be used as the food of the man...Many have had all holy thoughts and gracious resolutions stamped out by perpetual trifling. Pleasure so called is the murderer of thought. This is the age of excessive amusement: everybody craves for it, like a babe for its rattle.
When you see no present advantage, walk by faith and not by sight. Do God the honor to trust Him when it comes to matters of loss for the sake of principle.
It is far easier to fight with sin in public than to pray against it in private.
You will never glory in God till first of all God has killed your glorying in yourself.
After faith comes repentance, or, rather, repentance is faith's twin brother and is born at the same time.
["All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth unto such as keep his covenant."] The original Hebrew word that has been translated "paths" means "well-worn roads' or "wheel tracks," such ruts as wagons make when they go down our green roads in wet weather and sink in up to the axles. God's ways are at times like heavy wagon tracks that cut deep into our souls, yet all of them are merciful.
Most writers tend to get worse rather than better. I'm determined to be one that gets better.
Don't think that because you have to go down in the wash-tub that you are any less a lady!
Pessimism is only the name that men of weak nerve give to wisdom.
Marking dynamos for repair $10,000.00-2 hours labor $10.00; knowing where to mark $9,990.00.
I've come to the realisation that I have absolutely no idea what I'm doing half the time...
By far the greatest and most admirable form of wisdom is that needed to plan and beautify cities and human communities.
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.