Anger distorts perception—it narrows your vision to immediate offense rather than the fuller strategic picture. Lao Tzu suggests that the fighter who remains composed sees openings the enraged opponent cannot, because fury consumes the mental space needed for genuine awareness. A surgeon operating on a patient she initially disliked must set aside resentment to think clearly; her skill depends entirely on that detachment, not despite it. What appears as passivity or emotional distance is actually the sharpest form of presence.