--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Anger may in time change to gladness…" description: "\"“Anger may in time change to gladness; vexation may be succeeded by content. 21. But a kingdom that has once been destroyed can never come again into b..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/214/sun-tzu-283_anger_anger-may-in-time-change-to-gladness-vex_444538.jpg" --- # Anger may in time change to gladness; vexation may be… ![“Anger may in time change to gladness; vexation may be succeeded by content. 21. But a kingdom that has once been destroyed can never come again into being; nor can the dead ever be brought back to life. 22. Hence the enlightened ruler is heedful, and the good general full of caution. This is the…” quote by Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/214/sun-tzu-283_anger_anger-may-in-time-change-to-gladness-vex_444538.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/214/sun-tzu-283_anger_anger-may-in-time-change-to-gladness-vex_444538.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/214/sun-tzu-283_anger_anger-may-in-time-change-to-gladness-vex_444538.jpg) > ““Anger may in time change to gladness; vexation may be succeeded by content. 21. But a kingdom that has once been destroyed can never come again into being; nor can the dead ever be brought back to life. 22. Hence the enlightened ruler is heedful, and the good general full of caution. This is the way to keep a country at peace and an army intact.”” [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Emotions shift over time, but lost kingdoms and dead cannot be restored; wise leaders act cautiously to preserve peace and strength. **In simple terms:** Feelings change, but lost things stay lost; caution keeps peace. Key Takeaway Lead with prudence to protect stability. Themes leadership war peace impermanence Mood thoughtful serious Type historical strategic When to use this quote - political leadership - military command - conflict resolution - statecraft - historical analysis Key Concepts strategic caution impermanence emotional cycles Questions to Reflect On - How can leaders balance caution with decisive action? - What safeguards prevent complacency? A Different Perspective Even with caution, unforeseen events can still cause loss. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Anger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anger/) [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Change Gladness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change-gladness-3891420/) [Enlightened Ruler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enlightened-ruler-429006/) [Gladness Vexation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gladness-vexation-3891421/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Kingdom Destroyed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kingdom-destroyed-2451275/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) [Ruler Heedful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ruler-heedful-3891419/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Time Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time-change/) ## Related quotes > [“Anger may in time change to gladness; vexation may be succeeded by content. But a kingdom that has once been destroyed can never come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/anger-may-in-time-change-to-gladness-vexation-may-be-succeeded-by-2/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [The enlightened ruler is heedful, and the good general full of caution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/the-enlightened-ruler-is-heedful-and-the-good-general-full-of-caution/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [A kingdom that has once been destroyed can never come again into being; nor can the dead ever be brought back to life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/a-kingdom-that-has-once-been-destroyed-can-never-come-again-into/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [It is only the enlightened ruler and the wise general who will use the highest intelligence of the army for the purposes of spying,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/it-is-only-the-enlightened-ruler-and-the-wise-general-who-will-use/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [Hence the saying: The enlightened ruler lays his plans well ahead; the good general cultivates his resources.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/hence-the-saying-the-enlightened-ruler-lays-his-plans-well-ahead-the/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [The end of all things is at hand; that Satan's kingdom will be destroyed, and Satan chained down for a thousand years, and Christ's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanna-southcott/the-end-of-all-things-is-at-hand-that-satan-s-kingdom-will-be/) [Joanna Southcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanna-southcott/) > [A wise man, when he writes a book, sets forth his arguments fully and clearly; an enlightened ruler, when he makes his laws, sees…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/han-fei/a-wise-man-when-he-writes-a-book-sets-forth-his-arguments-fully-and/) [Han Fei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/han-fei/) > [In dealing with those who share his bed, the enlightened ruler may enjoy their beauty but should not listen to their special pleas...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/han-fei/in-dealing-with-those-who-share-his-bed-the-enlightened-ruler-may/) [Han Fei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/han-fei/) > [An enlightened ruler doesnot worry about people not knowing him; he worriesabout not knowing people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zhuge-liang/an-enlightened-ruler-doesnot-worry-about-people-not-knowing-him-he/) [Zhuge Liang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zhuge-liang/) > [The Way of an enlightened ruler is to make it so that no minister may make a proposal and then fail to match it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/han-fei/the-way-of-an-enlightened-ruler-is-to-make-it-so-that-no-minister-may/) [Han Fei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/han-fei/) > [When an enlightened ruler controls his ministers, he makes it so that ministers cannot get credit for achievements gained by overstepping the bounds of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/han-fei/when-an-enlightened-ruler-controls-his-ministers-he-makes-it-so-that/) [Han Fei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/han-fei/) > [No ruler should put troops into the field merely to gratify his own spleen; no general should fight a battle simply out of pique.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/no-ruler-should-put-troops-into-the-field-merely-to-gratify-his-own/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [“Wasting time changes the nature of time. And the heart is stilled.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-tremain/wasting-time-changes-the-nature-of-time-and-the-heart-is-stilled/) [Rose Tremain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-tremain/) > [“Patience is required as well because if you don't give time for change, then maybe you don't change.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/petri-r-is-nen/patience-is-required-as-well-because-if-you-don-t-give-time-for/) [Petri Räisänen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/petri-r-is-nen/) > [I just don't have time for certain things and certain people in my life anymore...It's time for a change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-just-don-t-have-time-for-certain-things-and-certain-people-in-my/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Sun Tzu > [It is the rule in war, if our forces are ten to the enemy's one, to surround him; if five to one, to attack…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/it-is-the-rule-in-war-if-our-forces-are-ten-to-the-enemy-s-one-to/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [It is according to the shapes that I lay the plans for victory, but the multitude does not comprehend this. Although everyone can see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/it-is-according-to-the-shapes-that-i-lay-the-plans-for-victory-but/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [Go into emptiness, strike voids, bypass what he defends hit him where he does not expect you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/go-into-emptiness-strike-voids-bypass-what-he-defends-hit-him-where/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [“In a similar way, The Art of War pinpoints anger and greed as fundamental causes of defeat.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/in-a-similar-way-the-art-of-war-pinpoints-anger-and-greed-as/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [“The PEOPLE being regarded as the essential part of the State, and FOOD as the people's heaven, is it not right that those in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/the-people-being-regarded-as-the-essential-part-of-the-state-and-food/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [Therefore the good fighter will be terrible in his onset, and prompt in his decision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/therefore-the-good-fighter-will-be-terrible-in-his-onset-and-prompt/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [The enemy's spies who have come to spy on us must be sought out, tempted with bribes, led away and comfortably housed. Thus they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/the-enemy-s-spies-who-have-come-to-spy-on-us-must-be-sought-out/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [“So long as victory can be attained,  stupid haste is preferable to clever dilatoriness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/so-long-as-victory-can-be-attained-stupid-haste-is-preferable-to/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [“You can ensure the safety of your defense if you only hold positions that cannot be attacked.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/you-can-ensure-the-safety-of-your-defense-if-you-only-hold-positions/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [“Hence, when able to attack, we must seem unable; when using our forces, we must seem inactive; when we are near, we must make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/hence-when-able-to-attack-we-must-seem-unable-when-using-our-forces/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [If we do not wish to fight, we can prevent the enemy from engaging us even though the lines of our encampment be merely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/if-we-do-not-wish-to-fight-we-can-prevent-the-enemy-from-engaging-us/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [“The general who wins a battle makes many calculations in his temple before the battle is fought. The general who loses a battle makes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/the-general-who-wins-a-battle-makes-many-calculations-in-his-temple/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [In all fighting, the direct method may be used for joining battle, but indirect methods will be needed in order to secure victory.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/in-all-fighting-the-direct-method-may-be-used-for-joining-battle-but/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [“To begin by bluster, but afterwards to take fright at the enemy's numbers, shows a supreme lack of intelligence.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/to-begin-by-bluster-but-afterwards-to-take-fright-at-the-enemy-s/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [ They \[spies\] cannot be properly managed without benevolence and straightforwardness. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/they-spies-cannot-be-properly-managed-without-benevolence-and/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) [Explore all 685 Sun Tzu quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) ## 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": "“Anger may in time change to gladness; vexation may be succeeded by content. 21. But a kingdom that has once been destroyed can never come again into being; nor can the dead ever be brought back to life. 22. Hence the enlightened ruler is heedful, and the good general full of caution. 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