In the heat of the moment, our anger seems justified. And yet very infrequently do we regret the harsh words that we choose not to utter in moments of passion.

Benjamin Franklin once said “Remember not only to say the right thing in the right place, but far more difficult still, to leave unsaid the wrong thing at the tempting moment.” Warren Buffet recently put it in more modern terms: “You can always tell a man to go to hell tomorrow.”

While normally it’s the chances we don’t take and the things we don’t do that we ultimately regret the most, in matters of emotion, what we often regret most are the words we wish we hadn’t spoken.

When you find yourself overcome with anger or emotion, and the words forged in your pounding heart rush towards your mouth at a furious pace, begging to be freed, practice restraint. Take a deep breath and a long walk, write down what you wanted to say, and re-read your sentiments after a good night’s sleep. More often than not you will be happy with your decision.