"Whenever you are angry, be assured that it is not only a present evil, but that you have increased a habit"

Anger often feels like a justified emotion in the moment, a natural response to unfairness or harm. Yet, Epictetus warns about its double-edged nature. When one succumbs to anger, not only is one immediately afflicted by turmoil, aggression, or poor judgment, but there is also an insidious, cumulative effect. Each time a person reacts angrily, it becomes easier to react that way again. The mind, by repetition, engraves pathways; the more often anger is chosen, the more likely it becomes an automatic response in the face of frustration or hurt.

Such patterns are not innate but acquired and shaped by repetition. An angry reaction is like a rut in a road, every outburst deepens it, making future journeys along that route both natural and unconscious. What begins as a singular moment of emotional weakness becomes, over time, a self-perpetuating habit. Therein lies the danger: anger is not merely a passing discomfort, but a seed that, once sown again and again, grows into a persistent disposition. The Stoic concern is not solely for the momentary pain that anger causes, but for the long-term transformation of one’s character.

By increasing the habit of anger, individuals surrender control over their own minds and responses. Freedom shrinks as reaction replaces reason. The sage strives not to let an emotion like anger dictate behavior, because every indulgence is a lesson to oneself: “This is acceptable; do it again.” Thus, resisting anger is an act of self-liberation, a training in choosing virtue over impulse. By becoming aware, by pausing before reacting, one preserves inner harmony and weakens the grip of negative routines. Awareness of the ongoing cost of anger cracks the illusion of harmlessness. Each moment of restraint is a step toward greater tranquility and mastery over one’s soul.