Letters: Lessons from Homer’s Iliad

Excerpts from an article in the Free Press, written by Spencer Klavan, November 16, 2025

Homer understood that anger breeds more anger. Rage becomes a kind of mutually assured destruction—a state in which one has “lost all pity and has no shame in his or her heart.” Therapists often note that anger rarely reflects our deepest emotions; it usually masks something more vulnerable, like sadness or shame.

With that in mind, the anger and distrust dominating our politics should remind us to set down the weapons of division that are tearing us apart.

Maybe we can start small: reach out to an old friend or relative with whom we’ve fallen out over politics. Talk honestly about your worst disagreements, and acknowledge how painful it is that your bond has frayed. It won’t fix everything, but it