Franklin distinguishes between having a cause for anger and having a sound justification for it. Anger rarely appears without some trigger, such as an insult, disappointment or perceived injustice. However, the existence of a trigger does not mean that the emotional response is proportionate, accurate or reasonable.

The saying encourages people to examine the grounds of their anger rather than treating the feeling itself as proof that they have been wronged. Misunderstanding, pride, impatience or incomplete information can all produce anger that feels justified in the moment. Franklin’s point is therefore not that anger is always mistaken, but that its reasons should be tested carefully. The quotation favours reflection over immediate reaction and suggests that sound judgement requires separating the fact that one feels angry from the question of whether that anger is warranted.