“Anger can be cured by time; hatred cannot… Much may happen to make the angry man pity those who offend him, but the hater under no circumstances wishes to pity a man whom he has once hated: for the one would have the offenders suffer for what they have done; the other would have them cease to exist.” —Aristotle

We use the word “hate” far too freely. I hate getting up early. I hate tailgaters. I hate turnips. I hate hate crimes. That’s probably why the word gets such a bad rap. What if the truth about hate is entirely different? What if hate is a perfectly natural human emotion—and one that has its place? Right now, I’m angry with the man who broke my heart and want him to suffer. I would much prefer to hate him. Because then, according to Aristotle, he would cease to exist or matter to me. And that’s a coping mechanism I can get on board with.

Is there a place for hate?

:: hate-cake by kayepants