He that is angry without a cause must be pleased without amends.
He that is angry without a cause must be pleased without amends.
Meaning in plain English
If someone has become angry without good reason, they cannot fairly demand compensation merely to restore their mood. The saying separates calming down from receiving amends, while leaving genuine grievances open to examination.
Example
A club organiser checks a complaint about an allegedly missing invitation, finds it was received and acknowledged, and discusses the misunderstanding without promising an unrelated favour.
Deeper explanation and when to use it
Without a cause supplies the condition on which the proverb depends. If there has been no wrong, the person who is angry has no established basis for asking another person to make amends. Must be pleased means returning to a calmer or more satisfied state without that demanded repair. In use, the saying can question pressure to apologise, offer a favour or accept blame simply to end an outburst. It is important first to understand what happened: a grievance may be real even when someone else does not recognise it. The proverb concerns an unsupported demand, not a general rule that anger is unreasonable or that upset people should be dismissed.
When to use it
Use it only after examining whether the requested amends correspond to an actual wrong.
Keep in mind
Do not assume anger has no cause merely because the cause is unfamiliar; legitimate grievances deserve a hearing.
Edsverb editorial interpretation · agent reviewed · 2026-10-05. This explains the saying; it does not establish its historical origin.
- Source
- A Dictionary of English Proverbs and Proverbial Phrases
Entry 32 · Angry
Read the original context ↗ - Attribution confidence
- traditional · historical anthology
Preserved as printed; independently unverified. - Historical coordinate
- Undated
No reliable date supplied by the collection. - Rights & edition
- Public domain (United States)
Translations and rights may differ elsewhere.
Provenance and licences ↗