Anger Quote by Lynn G. Robbins
“In his sophomore year Wilbanks tried out for the high school basketball team and made it. On the first day of practice his coach had him play one-on-one while the team observed. When he missed an easy shot, he became angry and stomped and whined. The coach walked over to him and said, "You pull a stunt like that again and you'll never play for my team." For the next three years he never lost control again. Years later, as he reflected back on this incident, he realized that the coach had taught him a life-changing principle that day: anger can be controlled.”
About This Quote
Source Short story: Personal anecdote by Lynn G. Robbins, 2000s
A coach’s firm warning taught a young athlete that unchecked anger leads to loss of opportunity, prompting lifelong self‑control.
In simple terms: Anger must be managed to keep chances alive.
Key Takeaway
Control your temper to stay on the team.
Themes
self‑discipline
emotional regulation
growth
personal development
Mood
reflective
determined
inspirational
Type
advice
personal development
storytelling
When to use this quote
- sports practice
- team meetings
- conflict resolution
- personal coaching
Key Concepts
psychology
behavioral conditioning
leadership
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you recognize when anger is escalating?
- What strategies help you pause before reacting?
A Different Perspective
The lesson may not apply when anger is a symptom of deeper trauma needing professional help.
![“Tony [Walters] was one of the first international world-class athlete I had ever dealt with and I was lucky enough to have him as a coach and he taught me a lot about the mental aspects of training and competition.” quote by Chris Algieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/677/chris-algieri-15307_aspect_tony-walters-was-one-of-the-first-intern_119676.jpg)
