NUM377 Although anger is an extremely evil trait, one must sometimes conduct himself in accordance with this trait, like when it is necessary to chastise the wicked, or to instill fear in the members of his household, or to cast his fear upon his students. And when one is angry with transgressors, he must weigh the extent of his anger. Because Moshe our teacher, may peace be upon him, said to the children of Reuven and Gad [this verse]: "You are a brood of sinful men," his descendant became a priest of idols--even though he was angry for the sake of Heaven. All of man's actions require the proper measure. He must deliberate how to perform the mitzvos, both when angry and when in good spirits. If a man has the trait of anger and he suppresses his trait and his habit as if he were not one of the angry ones, about him it is written (Mishlei 16:32): "Better is he who withholds his wrath than the hero, and he who rules his spirit than a conqueror of a city"; and withholding of wrath is one of the thirteen attributes stated in relation to the Blessed Creator. The Sage has said, "He whose anger comes upon him with thought, upon him you will see composure and grace, and he whose anger comes upon him with thoughtlessness, upon him you will see folly." The Sage has said further: "He whose anger is strong and his wrath intent is not far from the demented." And he who is given to anger, his life is no life (Pesachim 113b), and he is never happy. And since he is never happy, he does not accept what transpires with love and joy, he does not acknowledge the rightness of God's justice with him, and he cannot serve the Blessed One with joy.