Whatever begins in anger ends in shame эссе

Anger is not new

When you read this quotation by Benjamin Franklin, your first impulse might be to assume that Franklin was one of those calm and collected individuals. You know, someone who was in a perfect state of Zen all the time. Maybe he was. But it’s much more likely that he was…well…what’s the word? Oh yeah—NORMAL.

I can’t picture Franklin CALM while making the speech when he challenged his fellow patriots with the words, “Gentlemen, we must, indeed, all hang together, or, most assuredly, we shall all hang separately.”

It’s hard to imagine that ANY of the American Founding Fathers were sitting around in some state of euphoric bliss while they watched their civil rights trampled under foot by the British government. I suspect most of them were ANGRY. Maybe ALL of them.

It’s much more probable that they had their moments of anger just like the rest of us. They may have occasionally said words they later regretted. They may have done things they wished they hadn’t done. There’s no good reason to think otherwise.

Two sides of anger

But is this what Franklin was getting at when he made this remark? Not likely. More likely he was simply recognizing the DARK SIDE of anger. The DESTRUCTIVE SIDE of anger.

Anger in fact has TWO SIDES. One side is constructive, healthy, valuable, and contributes to our well-being and the betterment of our lives.

The other side of anger is destructive, unhealthy, of no value, and contributes to making our lives decidedly worse. Franklin was talking about the dark side of anger.

Anger is an emotion

Before we get into what Mr. Franklin probably meant by his quotation, a brief overview of anger should be helpful.

It’s not so much that anger has a good side and a bad side. It’s that we allow anger to dictate our response. Let me explain.

Anger is at core simply a human EMOTION. When we have an emotional reaction, certain chemicals are released into our system. The purpose of a particular emotion is to GET OUR ATTENTION. It helps us focus on something that needs addressing.  

Emotions give us laser-like focus and intensity. They motivate us to take action. They inspire us. They give us added energy, vitality, strength, and resolve.

Our emotions are designed to HELP US deal with what is before us. Without emotions, our lives would be bland and seemingly without purpose. We would live in a state of lethargy, drowsiness, and indifference. Not only indifferent to the lives of others, but indifferent to our own lives as well. 

Think of what life would be like without joy, fear, sorrow, grief, hate, or love. We’d be like machines. Like robots. Or ZOMBIES! Emotions give our lives meaning and excitement. They’re our partners in making life better and richer.

An emotion run amuck

HOWEVER…emotions run amuck can be destructive. They can make our lives WORSE. They leave wreckage in their wake. Emotions make great servants but horrible masters. We must find the proper and healthy balance.

Franklin was thinking about ANGER GONE AMUCK. Anger that was out-of-control. Anger that was destructive rather than beneficial. But why would this be?

Because anger is NOT A SOLUTION. Anger is only a CALL TO A SOLUTION. Anger doesn’t fix anything. Anger only announces that something NEEDS FIXING. It’s then up to us to THINK THROUGH the possible and best solutions to the issue that confronts us.

When anger prompts us to THINK, and REASON, and CONSIDER, and CORRECT, and IMPROVE…then anger has served its purpose.

When anger prompts us to OVERREACT, to LASH OUT, to PUNISH, to TAKE REVENGE, to HARM or DESTROY…then anger has become our MASTER rather than our SERVANT. It has become our enemy rather than our ally.

We need not fear anger—unless we can’t control it. Life is full of things that have POTENTIAL for harm, but need not LEAD to harm. Some examples include:

• Fire
• Water
• Sports
• Swimming
• Electricity
• Bicycling
• Cooking
• Construction
• Air Travel
• Hiking
• Investing
• Working
• Boating
• Trusting
• Loving

We could add 100 more to this list. Maybe 1,000 more. 

It’s about control

Benjamin Franklin had seen the destructive potential of unbridled anger. I chose “unbridled” on purpose because a horse illustrates the idea perfectly. A horse has tremendous strength and speed. But the horse’s strength and speed are CONTROLLED by means of the bit and reins. 

A small tug on the reins directs the horse where the rider wants to go. Even though the horse is FREE to go wherever it wants, it CHOOSES to obey the directions given by the rider. The horse knows those directions as COMMUNICATED through the bit and reins.

In a similar way, anger is a powerful force for good. And properly harnessed, anger serves us very well. No doubt many of the major changes throughout human history were prompted when people got fed up with the status quo. THEY GOT ANGRY about the way things were. That anger spurred them on to take action that brought about a desired solution.

If necessity is the mother of invention, then anger is the mother of solutions. Anger drives us to improve the current state. Sometimes anger is the ONLY THING that will prompt action. At such times anger can become an effective motivation for change. 

Let anger motivate you to find a solution

Franklin would say that anger should have its day. When it comes, we should recognize what it wants to accomplish. It wants us to feel the jolt of energy coursing through our body and mind.

But then we’ll need to get a grip. We’ll need to calm down. We’ll need to prepare our minds for thinking and processing. We’ll need to REASON. And when we do, we’ll have anger to thank for getting us started on the road to change.

But when our response is DIRECTED by our anger, we’ll be headed for disaster. This is the “shame” Franklin refers to. He’s talking about an anger that causes us to take action BEFORE WE’VE THOUGHT THE MATTER THROUGH. We haven’t properly RESPONDED to the prompting. We’ve merely REACTED to the prompting.

The former is constructive. The latter is destructive. 

A great servant, a horrible master

I believe this is what Franklin intended for us to take from his words. Anger properly directed can be resourceful, motivating, and healing. Misdirected it can reap horrific destruction. 

Think of anger like using a knife. The usefulness of the knife is determined by whether we grasp it by the handle or by the blade. Same device—different applications.

Or think of a knife in the hands of a surgeon vs. a thug. One uses the knife to facilitate healing. The other uses the knife to maim or kill. Same device—different applications.

And so it goes with anger. A great servant, a horrible master. An emotional prompting for us to change what needs changing. A rush to help focus our attention and give us intensity and resolve. 

Or an emotion that, unchecked and unbridled, can lead to untold pain, destruction, and loss. Treat anger with great respect. Recognize its potential power to heal or to harm. When it prompts you, use your mind to process and seek a solution. Don’t use the anger as fuel for destruction. The choice is ours. Ben wanted us to know. 

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7 Согласны ли вы с этим утверждением? Обсудите.

Слова Мудрости

Всё, что начинается в гневе, заканчивается в стыде.

Бенджамин Франклин (государственный деятель США)

ГДЗ #1

A: I agree with the statement and think that you must say what’s really bothering you. But, please, don’t blame or accuse.

B: I also agree with the statement and think that if you want people to hear you opinion make sure practice what you preach. But also watch how you express yourself.

C: I agree that you also must be flexible and open-minded, willing to apologize, forgive and move on.

A: Я согласен с высказыванием и думаю, что вы должны говорить то, что действительно вас беспокоит. Но, пожалуйста, никого не вините, и не обвиняйте.

B: Я также согласен с высказыванием и думаю, что если вы хотите, чтобы люди услышали ваше мнение убедитесь в том, что вы разделяете его. Но внимательно смотрите за тем, как выражаете себя.

C: Я согласен, что вы также должны быть гибкими и открытыми, готовыми извиниться, простить и двигаться дальше.

ГДЗ #2

A: I agree with the statement about how easy it is for a conflict to become very bad with people screaming and even hitting. It has happened to me before.

B: I think it’s really important not to blame or accuse people when discussing a problem, as it doesn’t help.

C: Yes, I agree, it’s important to use «I feel» statements also.

D: I agree that being flexible and listening to the way the other person sees the problem helps when solving a problem. Etc

Перевод:

А: Я согласна с текстом о том, как легко конфликт может перерасти в крики и даже драки. Это случалось со мной раньше.

В: Я считаю, что очень важно не винить и не обвинять людей, когда обсуждаете проблему, так как это не помогает.

С: Да, я согласна, важно также использовать «Я чувствую» высказывания.

D: Я согласен, что быть гибким и слушать то, как другие люди видят проблему помогает, когда решаете проблему.

На этой странице вы сможете найти и списать готовое домешнее задание (ГДЗ) для школьников по предмету Английский язык, которые посещают 8 класс из книги или рабочей тетради под названием/издательством «Spotlight», которая была написана автором/авторами: Дули, Ваулина, Подоляко. ГДЗ представлено для списывания совершенно бесплатно и в открытом доступе.