--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We have to be faster in calming down a…" description: "\"We have to be faster in calming down a resentment than putting out a fire, because the consequences of the first are infinitely more dangerous than the..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/137/heraclitus-1050_anger_we-have-to-be-faster-in-calming-down-a-r_945272.jpg" --- # We have to be faster in calming down a resentment than… ![“We have to be faster in calming down a resentment than putting out a fire, because the consequences of the first are infinitely more dangerous than the results of the last; fire ends burning down some houses at the most, while the resentment can cause cruel wars, with the ruin and total…” quote by Heraclitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/137/heraclitus-1050_anger_we-have-to-be-faster-in-calming-down-a-r_945272.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/137/heraclitus-1050_anger_we-have-to-be-faster-in-calming-down-a-r_945272.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/137/heraclitus-1050_anger_we-have-to-be-faster-in-calming-down-a-r_945272.jpg) > “We have to be faster in calming down a resentment than putting out a fire, because the consequences of the first are infinitely more dangerous than the results of the last; fire ends burning down some houses at the most, while the resentment can cause cruel wars, with the ruin and total destruction of nations.” [Heraclitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heraclitus/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Addressing resentment early prevents larger, more destructive outcomes than reacting to minor crises. **In simple terms:** Calm resentment before it escalates. Key Takeaway Prioritize emotional regulation over immediate fixes. Themes conflict resolution emotional intelligence peacebuilding Mood cautious thoughtful Type ethical philosophical When to use this quote - personal relationships - political negotiations - community disputes - workplace tensions Key Concepts philosophy psychology social dynamics Questions to Reflect On - What strategies help defuse resentment early? - How do you differentiate between minor issues and hidden resentment? A Different Perspective Resentment can be deep‑seated and hard to resolve quickly. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Anger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anger/) [Burning down](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/burning-down/) [Calming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/calming/) [Consequence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consequence/) [Destruction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/destruction/) [Fire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fire/) [Nations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nations/) [Resentment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/resentment/) [Ruins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ruins/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [With gas cookers and chip pans in every kitchen, the chip-pan fire was by far the most popular method these Proddies had for burning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrian-mckinty/with-gas-cookers-and-chip-pans-in-every-kitchen-the-chip-pan-fire-was/) [Adrian McKinty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrian-mckinty/) > [“It's as if they saw a house burning and determined that the bigger the fire, the more firemen are present, and then concluded that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/uffe-ravnskov/it-s-as-if-they-saw-a-house-burning-and-determined-that-the-bigger/) Uffe Ravnskov > [Impatience has a poor track record for perfection. Getting things right usually includes calming down!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrison-wynn/impatience-has-a-poor-track-record-for-perfection-getting-things/) [Garrison Wynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrison-wynn/) > [There's very few directors that know what that rehearsal's for. And often it's just about calming down the director. If he could see it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ewan-mcgregor/there-s-very-few-directors-that-know-what-that-rehearsal-s-for-and/) [Ewan McGregor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ewan-mcgregor/) > [When your house is burning down, you don't worry about the remodeling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arianna-huffington/when-your-house-is-burning-down-you-don-t-worry-about-the-remodeling/) [Arianna Huffington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arianna-huffington/) > [The Fire Department has traditionally considered architecture a priority only when it’s burning down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-davidson/the-fire-department-has-traditionally-considered-architecture-a/) Justin Davidson > [I mean, I'd like to see (Mitt Romney's) house burn, one of his millions of houses burning down. It would be kind of cool…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joy-behar/i-mean-i-d-like-to-see-mitt-romney-s-house-burn-one-of-his-millions/) [Joy Behar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joy-behar/) > [His master’s pain was his pain. And it hurt him more for his master to be sick than for him to be sick himself.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/his-master-s-pain-was-his-pain-and-it-hurt-him-more-for-his-master-to/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [Our house is burning down and we are blind to it. The earth and humankind are in danger and we are all responsible. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-chirac/our-house-is-burning-down-and-we-are-blind-to-it-the-earth-and/) [Jacques Chirac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-chirac/) > [Only the Muslims defend their beliefs by burning down churches, killing people and destroying embassies. This path will not yield any results. The Muslims…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wafa-sultan/only-the-muslims-defend-their-beliefs-by-burning-down-churches/) [Wafa Sultan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wafa-sultan/) > [Every Victim requires a Persecutor. But the Persecutor isn't always necessarily a person. The Persecutor could also be a condition or a circumstance. A…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-emerald-womeldorff/every-victim-requires-a-persecutor-but-the-persecutor-isn-t-always/) [David Emerald Womeldorff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-emerald-womeldorff/) > [Hating someone is like burning down your own house to get rid of a rat. Invest your energy into something more worthwhile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perrie-edwards/hating-someone-is-like-burning-down-your-own-house-to-get-rid-of-a/) [Perrie Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perrie-edwards/) > [But how did you come burning down like a wild needle, knowing just where my heart was?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-oliver/but-how-did-you-come-burning-down-like-a-wild-needle-knowing-just/) [Mary Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-oliver/) > [I have fantasies of burning down an insurance company just so THEY have to make a claim.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alonzo-bodden/i-have-fantasies-of-burning-down-an-insurance-company-just-so-they/) [Alonzo Bodden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alonzo-bodden/) > [Every time an old person dies, it's like a library burning down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-haley/every-time-an-old-person-dies-it-s-like-a-library-burning-down/) [Alex Haley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-haley/) ## More by Heraclitus > [Learning many things does not teach understanding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heraclitus/learning-many-things-does-not-teach-understanding/) [Heraclitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heraclitus/) > [Dogs, also, bark at what they do not know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heraclitus/dogs-also-bark-at-what-they-do-not-know/) [Heraclitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heraclitus/) > [The fairest harmony springs from discord.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heraclitus/the-fairest-harmony-springs-from-discord/) [Heraclitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heraclitus/) > [“One man is worth thousand if he is extraordinary”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heraclitus/one-man-is-worth-thousand-if-he-is-extraordinary/) [Heraclitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heraclitus/) > [Presumption must be quenched even more than a fire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heraclitus/presumption-must-be-quenched-even-more-than-a-fire/) [Heraclitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heraclitus/) > [Those unmindful when they hear, for all they make of their intelligence, may be regarded as the walking dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heraclitus/those-unmindful-when-they-hear-for-all-they-make-of-their/) [Heraclitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heraclitus/) > [Everything is in flux.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heraclitus/everything-is-in-flux/) [Heraclitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heraclitus/) > [The Cosmos was not made by gods but always was and is eternal fire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heraclitus/the-cosmos-was-not-made-by-gods-but-always-was-and-is-eternal-fire/) [Heraclitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heraclitus/) > [ Men who are lovers of wisdom \[i.e., philosophers\] must be inquirers into many things. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heraclitus/men-who-are-lovers-of-wisdom-i-e-philosophers-must-be-inquirers-into/) [Heraclitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heraclitus/) > [We do not step in the same river twice, for the waters have moved on and we too have changed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heraclitus/we-do-not-step-in-the-same-river-twice-for-the-waters-have-moved-on/) [Heraclitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heraclitus/) > [War is the father of all things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heraclitus/war-is-the-father-of-all-things/) [Heraclitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heraclitus/) > [The fairest order in the world is a heap of random sweepings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heraclitus/the-fairest-order-in-the-world-is-a-heap-of-random-sweepings/) [Heraclitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heraclitus/) > [The seeing have the world in common.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heraclitus/the-seeing-have-the-world-in-common/) [Heraclitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heraclitus/) > [All men have the capacity of knowing themselves and acting with moderation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heraclitus/all-men-have-the-capacity-of-knowing-themselves-and-acting-with/) [Heraclitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heraclitus/) > [Those who love wisdom must investigate many things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heraclitus/those-who-love-wisdom-must-investigate-many-things/) [Heraclitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heraclitus/) [Explore all 296 Heraclitus quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heraclitus/) ## More Anger quotes > [“If I let myself think of it the pain and anger were still fresh, adrenalin racing down my limbs to pool, hot and itchy,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kylie-ladd/if-i-let-myself-think-of-it-the-pain-and-anger-were-still-fresh/) [Kylie Ladd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kylie-ladd/) > [I receive something we might euphemistically call an 'inappropriately hostile' response - that is to say, more than fair criticism or even fair anger…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-beard/i-receive-something-we-might-euphemistically-call-an-inappropriately/) [Mary Beard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-beard/) > [The vision of the left, full of envy and resentment, takes its worst toll on those at the bottom - whether black or white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/the-vision-of-the-left-full-of-envy-and-resentment-takes-its-worst/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [Anger is a rough water; if you can canalize it into a water mill, you can benefit from it. Anything bad can be transformed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/anger-is-a-rough-water-if-you-can-canalize-it-into-a-water-mill-you/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [“Some say the Earth is angry Because he wants no company; I say the Earth is angry Because he lives alone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-k-jemisin/some-say-the-earth-is-angry-because-he-wants-no-company-i-say-the/) [N.K. Jemisin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-k-jemisin/) > [“When you feel terribly angry, you're possessed by anger ghost.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toba-beta/when-you-feel-terribly-angry-you-re-possessed-by-anger-ghost/) [Toba Beta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toba-beta/) > [“Medical studies have shown that cursing reduces levels of stress and pain. Repressing your anger is not healthy. It's much better to verbalize it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-markus-malloy/medical-studies-have-shown-that-cursing-reduces-levels-of-stress-and/) [Oliver Markus Malloy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-markus-malloy/) > [My care will be in the heart n not in words My anger will be in Words n not in the Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/my-care-will-be-in-the-heart-n-not-in-words-my-anger-will-be-in-words/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [You should be angry. You must not be bitter. Bitterness is like cancer. It eats upon the host. It doesn't do anything to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/you-should-be-angry-you-must-not-be-bitter-bitterness-is-like-cancer/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [To be a Negro in this country and to be relatively conscious is to be in a rage almost all the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-be-a-negro-in-this-country-and-to-be-relatively-conscious-is-to-be/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“God, you had enough time to have been through it three times. You've been through my stuff. I bet you over and let one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/god-you-had-enough-time-to-have-been-through-it-three-times-you-ve/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [The present contains nothing more than the past, and what is found in the effect was already in the cause.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-bergson/the-present-contains-nothing-more-than-the-past-and-what-is-found-in/) [Henri Bergson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-bergson/) > [Depression is merely anger without enthusiasm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/depression-is-merely-anger-without-enthusiasm/) [Steven Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/) > [I always fight better when my opponent's angry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-haye/i-always-fight-better-when-my-opponent-s-angry/) [David Haye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-haye/) > [ “Where there are kashays (anger-pride-deceit-greed), there is worldly life. As long as anger-pride-deceit-greed exist; one is a sansaari \[living a worldly life\] regardless of… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/where-there-are-kashays-anger-pride-deceit-greed-there-is-worldly/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) [Browse all 7,469 Anger quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anger/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We have to be faster in calming down a resentment than putting out a fire, because the consequences of the first are infinitely more dangerous than the results of the last; fire ends burning down some houses at the most, while the resentment can cause cruel wars, with the ruin and total destruction of nations.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Heraclitus" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heraclitus/we-have-to-be-faster-in-calming-down-a-resentment-than-putting-out-a/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Anger" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heraclitus/we-have-to-be-faster-in-calming-down-a-resentment-than-putting-out-a/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/137/heraclitus-1050_anger_we-have-to-be-faster-in-calming-down-a-r_945272.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/137/heraclitus-1050_anger_we-have-to-be-faster-in-calming-down-a-r_945272.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/137/heraclitus-1050_anger_we-have-to-be-faster-in-calming-down-a-r_945272.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We have to be faster in calming down a resentment than putting out a fire, because the consequences of the…” — Heraclitus", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Heraclitus", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heraclitus/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "We have to be faster in...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heraclitus/we-have-to-be-faster-in-calming-down-a-resentment-than-putting-out-a/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heraclitus/we-have-to-be-faster-in-calming-down-a-resentment-than-putting-out-a/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```