tem·per

/ˈtɛmpər/

–noun
1. a particular state of mind or feelings.
2. habit of mind, esp. with respect to irritability or patience, outbursts of anger, or the like; disposition: an even temper.
3. heat of mind or passion, shown in outbursts of anger, resentment, etc.

Marcus Aurelius said “How much more grievous are the consequences of anger than the causes of it.”

Abert Einstein said “Anger dwells only in the bosom of fools.”

Mark Twain said “Anger is an acid that can do more harm to the vessel in which it is stored than to anything on which it is poured.”

If this is true, I’ve been populating my life with corroded morons.

Never go to bed mad. Stay up and fight.

– Phyllis Diller

This series will explore great tempers, because anger can shape our lives.

The feeling may be be deadly (The Letter), or impotent (Bringing Up Baby). It may be in the hands of the powerful (Sweet Smell of Success), or the disempowered (Rebel Without a Cause). Perhaps it’s a crazy temper (Blue Velvet) or maybe anger is missing where it ought most be (Le Notti di Cabiria). The fury may be justified (Unforgiven), or cruel (Au Hasard Balthazar). Drug induced (Bigger Than Life) or lack of drug induced (The Man With the Golden Arm) . Exploited (Network) or a catalyst for change (Malcom X).

Whether it’s our own rage, anger directed towards us, or fury witnessed, it is a grand, violent and voluptuous emotion. Dangerous and important. Inherently tied to pain. Anger is one side of the coin, vulnerability, desire, fear and loss is the other.

If you have ever been close to someone with a temper you know what anger can do. The secret places anger comes from. How it changes the air in a room.

( First post later today!)