SO GOOD QUOTES

Category: ANGER

  • But, what if it is impossible to live peaceably with everybody?

    * Do not be the cause of the controversy.

    Be the crucified not the crucifier. You may face troubles from others, but do not be the beginner of evil. Moreover, do not be over-sensitive with regard to the faults of others.

    —H.H. Pope Shenouda III, Fruits of the Spirit

  • The gentle does not get angry for every cause.

    If he gets angry, it is for something serious, and often for God’s sake. His anger is not for his own sake, for his own dignity, nor for his own rights as others do.

    If he gets angry, he does not become furious or nervous. His anger is merely an expression of his objection and dissatisfaction. He is usually calm; does not easily get upset, nor flame with rage.

    —H.H. Pope Shenouda III, Fruits of the Spirit

  • The gentle person is always cheerful, and never frowns at anyone.

    His smile is sweet and loved by everyone, and his features are nice giving comfort to whoever looks at him. In his calmness he cannot rebuke or blame, nor can he act with excitedness or harshness, nor can he change the tone of his voice when rebuking someone.

    Even if mistreated, the gentle will not grumble, get bored, or complain.

    He often finds excuses for others, justifies their conduct, and thinks no evil. He never speaks about the offences against him, as if nothing has happened. He does not even feel sad within, and if he is provoked his anger will soon clear away and not turn into malice.

    —H.H. Pope Shenouda III, Fruits of the Spirit

  • Good relations can easily be established with the gentle person. Anybody can be on good terms with him.

    He does not get excited nor offended in agreements. Whoever argues with him feels at ease, even though different in opinion with him, being sure he will not get angry or count faults for him.

    —H.H. Pope Shenouda III, Fruits of the Spirit

  • The gentle has no violence nor wrath in his temper.

    He is calm and is not agitated or stirred. He does not get angry at all, nor is he ever aroused or overcome by nervousness. His nerves are always calm, and his features are always good natured and cheerful. He avenges not himself, nor solves his problems with violence. If anyone offends him, he faces it with longsuffering and patience.

    —H.H. Pope Shenouda III, Fruits of the Spirit

  • A kind heart does not rebuke much, and even if he rebukes, it will not be with hurting words.

    See how the Lord treated His disciple Peter who denied Him thrice, cursing and swearing, saying, “I do not know the Man.” (Mt 26: 69-74)! When the Lord met him after the resurrection, He did not remind him that he denied Him thrice with oaths and cursing, but to blame him, the Lord only said to him thrice, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?”

    —H.H. Pope Shenouda III, Fruits of the Spirit

  • WHEN SOMEONE INJURES US IN WHATEVER WAY, WHETHER WITH SLANDERS OR WITH INSULTS, WE SHOULD THINK OF HIM AS OUR BROTHER WHO HAS BEEN TAKEN HOLD OF BY THE ENEMY. WE HAS FALLEN VICTIM TO THE ENEMY. ACCORDINGLY WE NEED TO HAVE COMPASSION FOR HIM AND ENTREAT GOD TO HAVE MERCY BOTH ON US AND ON HIM, AND GOD WILL HELP BOTH, IF, HOWEVER, WE ARE FILLED WITH ANGER AGAINST HIM, THEN THE ENEMY WILL JUMP FROM HIM TO US AND MAKE A MOCKERY OF US BOTH A PERSON WHO CONDEMNS OTHERS DOES NOT LOVE CHRIST. OUR EGOTISM IS AT FAULT.

    Elder Porphyrios
    Wounded by Love

  • The thoughts that encompass all evil are eight in number: those of gluttony, unchastity, avarice, anger, dejection, listlessness, self-esteem and pride. It does not lie within our power to decide whether or not these eight thoughts are going to arise and disturb us. But to dwell on them or not to dwell on them, to excite the passions or not to excite them, does lie within our power. 

    —St John of Damaskos

  • Some, I know not why (for I have not learned to pry conceitedly into the gifts of God) are by nature, I might say, prone to temperance, or silence, or purity, or modesty, or meekness, or contrition. But others, although almost their own nature itself resists them in this, to the best of their power force themselves; and though they occasionally suffer defeat yet, as men struggling with nature, they are in my opinion higher than the former.

    St. John Climacus, The Ladder of Divine Ascent

  • “Our starting point is always wrong. Instead of beginning with ourselves, we always want to change others first and ourselves last. If everyone were to begin first with themselves, then there would be peace all around!”

    —Elder Thaddeus of Vitovnica, Our Thoughts Determine Our Lives