Seneca wrote a whole book on anger because he knew how much damage it does, mostly to the person feeling it. He called it a brief madness: in its grip we say and do things our calmer self would never choose. The Stoic move isn't to deny you're angry, that would be a lie. It's to notice the first spark and not feed it, to pause before the match becomes a fire. Anger feels powerful, but it usually leaves wreckage behind that you have to clean up later. A steady response isn't weakness; it's the harder, stronger choice. You can feel the heat and still decide not to be ruled by it.

Inspired by the old idea of response not reaction. Written by Ugo Charles.