34 Powerful Quotes for Managing Strong Emotions

August 22, 2025

Quotes about managing strong emotions provide therapeutic wisdom and practical insights for emotional regulation, offering evidence-based perspectives on handling anger, resentment, and intense feelings while highlighting the importance of professional support through licensed counseling services.

Ever notice how the right words can calm even your strongest emotions? These powerful quotes for managing strong emotions offer timeless wisdom and practical insight for those moments when feelings threaten to overwhelm – because sometimes the perfect perspective is all we need to find our way back to balance.

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34 Quotes About Managing Strong Emotions

While strong emotions like anger, frustration, and resentment are natural responses to challenging situations, they can significantly impact our mental wellbeing and relationships when left unchecked. These intense feelings can affect both our physical and psychological health, potentially leading to increased stress levels and strained personal and professional connections.

Below, we’ll explore 34 insightful quotes about managing powerful emotions and discuss how to find support when these feelings become overwhelming. Working with a licensed clinical social worker through telehealth services like ReachLink can provide effective strategies for emotional regulation.

Understanding Intense Emotions

According to the American Psychological Association (APA), anger is “an emotion characterized by antagonism toward someone or something you feel has deliberately done you wrong.” While experiencing occasional anger is normal and not inherently problematic, persistent intense emotions can lead to outbursts that negatively affect relationships at home, work, or school.

Wisdom on Managing Strong Emotions

Throughout history, philosophers, writers, and notable figures have shared insights about managing powerful emotions. These quotes may help put your feelings into perspective and reduce their impact on your mental health.

“I know of no more disagreeable situation than to be left feeling generally angry without anybody in particular to be angry at.” -Frank Moore Colby

“Anger is one letter short of danger.” -Eleanor Roosevelt

“Reproach is infinite, and knows no end/ So voluble a weapon is the tongue; Wounded, we wound; and neither side can fail/ For every man has equal strength to rail.” -Homer

“He who angers you conquers you.” -Elizabeth Kenny

“There was never an angry man that thought his anger unjust.” -St. Francis De Sales

“Angry people want you to see how powerful they are… loving people want you to see how powerful You are.” -Chief Red Eagle

“Righteous indignation: Your own wrath as opposed to the shocking bad temper of others.” -Elbert Hubbard

“If you are patient in one moment of anger, you will escape a hundred days of sorrow.” -Chinese proverb

“If what we are doing with our anger is not achieving the desired result, it would seem logical to try something different.” -Harriet Lerner

“When anger rises, think of the consequences.” Confucius

“Anger is an all-consuming fire that will burn you and everyone else around you. Where is the justice in that?” -Afeni Shakur

“Anybody can become angry-that is easy; but to be angry with the right person, and to the right degree, and at the right time, and for the right purpose, and in the right way-that is not within everybody’s power and is not easy. -Aristotle

“Truth is not spoken in anger. Truth is spoken, if it ever comes to be spoken, in love. The gaze of love is not deluded. It sees what is best in the beloved even when what is best in the beloved finds it hard to emerge into the light.” -J.M. Coetzee, Slow Man

“Anger is a momentary madness, so control your passion or it will control you.” -G.M. Trevelyan

“Anger, if not restrained, is frequently more hurtful to us than the injury that provokes it.” -Seneca

“Speak when you are angry and you will make the best speech you will ever regret.” -Ambrose Bierce

“Consider how much more you often suffer from your anger and grief, than from those very things for which you are angry and grieved.” -Marcus Aurelius Antoninius

“If you do not wish to be prone to anger, do not feed the habit; give it nothing which may tend to its increase. At first, keep quiet and count the days when you were not angry: I used to be angry every day, then every other day: next, every two, then every three days! and if you succeed in passing thirty days, sacrifice to the gods in thanksgiving.” -Epictetus

Quotes on Resentment and Holding onto Negative Emotions

“A man that studieth revenge keeps his own wounds green.” -Francis Bacon

“Resentment is like drinking poison and waiting for the other person to die.” Saint Augustine

“Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burned.” -Buddha

“To carry a grudge is like being stung to death by one bee.” –William H. Walton

“Life is but short; no time can be afforded but for the indulgence of real sorry, or contests upon questions seriously momentous. Let us not throw away any of our days upon useless resentment, or contend who shall hold out longest in stubborn malignity. It is best not to be angry; and best, in the next place, to be quickly reconciled.” -Samuel Johnson

“For every minute you remain angry, you give up sixty seconds of peace of mind.” -Ralph Waldo Emerson

Quotes on Emotions and Relationships

“The partition between love and anger is thin. I suppose it’s a need to protect the self from further wounding that makes people scream at the one they love.” -Sebastian Faulks, Where My Heart Used to Beat

“Anger is what you think you should feel when love becomes too painful.” – Unknown

“Sometimes, the most profound love can be found in the ashes of anger.” -Unknown

Quotes on Emotional Release and Healing

“To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover that the prisoner was you.” -Lewis B. Smedes

“Letting go gives us freedom, and freedom is the only condition for happiness. If, in our heart, we still cling to anything – anger, anxiety, or possessions – we cannot be free.” -Thich Nhat Hanh

“When you hold resentment toward another, you are bound to that person or condition by an emotional link that is stronger than steel. Forgiveness is the only way to dissolve that link and get free.” -Catherine Ponder

“I shall allow no man to belittle my soul by making me hate him.” Booker T. Washington

“Holding on to anger, resentment and hurt only gives you tense muscles, a headache and a sore jaw from clenching your teeth. Forgiveness gives you back the laughter and the lightness in your life.” -Joan Lunden

“Forgiveness is the fragrance that the violet sheds on the heel that has crushed it.” -Mark Twain

“Anger makes you smaller, while forgiveness forces you to grow beyond what you were.” -Cherie Carter-Scott

Finding Support for Emotional Regulation

If you’re struggling with managing intense emotions, speaking with a licensed clinical social worker can be beneficial. At ReachLink, our professionals can help you process difficult emotions and explore their underlying causes in a secure, confidential environment. Many of our therapists utilize evidence-based approaches like cognitive behavioral therapy to help identify negative thought patterns that may be contributing to emotional difficulties.

How Telehealth Services Can Help with Emotional Management

Recent research indicates that telehealth therapy can effectively address various mental health concerns, including emotional regulation challenges.

With ReachLink’s telehealth platform, you can connect with a licensed clinical social worker through video sessions, providing the flexibility to receive support in the way that best suits your needs. Our secure platform ensures your privacy while giving you access to professional guidance from wherever you are.

Takeaway

The quotes above offer valuable perspectives on managing powerful emotions like anger and resentment. If you’re experiencing intense emotions that are affecting your well-being and relationships, consider reaching out to a licensed clinical social worker through ReachLink’s psychotherapy services. Our professionals are equipped to help you develop effective strategies for emotional regulation and build healthier relationships with yourself and others.


FAQ

  • How can therapy help with managing strong emotions?

    Therapy provides a safe space to explore and understand your emotions while learning practical coping strategies. Licensed therapists can teach you evidence-based techniques for emotional regulation, help you identify triggers, and develop personalized strategies to manage intense feelings effectively.

  • What types of therapy are most effective for anger management?

    Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) are particularly effective for anger management. These approaches help you identify thought patterns that trigger anger, learn de-escalation techniques, and develop healthy emotional regulation skills through practical exercises and therapeutic discussions.

  • When should I seek professional help for emotional regulation?

    Consider seeking professional help if strong emotions are impacting your relationships, work, or daily life; if you're struggling to control your reactions; or if you're using unhealthy coping mechanisms. A licensed therapist can provide the support and tools needed for better emotional management.

  • How does online therapy through ReachLink work for emotional challenges?

    ReachLink connects you with licensed therapists through secure video sessions, offering convenient access to professional support from your preferred location. Our platform provides the same evidence-based therapeutic approaches as in-person therapy, with the added flexibility of virtual sessions.

  • What therapeutic techniques can help in managing intense emotions?

    Therapeutic techniques include mindfulness practices, emotional awareness exercises, progressive muscle relaxation, and structured problem-solving approaches. Your therapist will work with you to develop a personalized toolkit of strategies that best suit your needs and circumstances.

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