"A momentary flash of anger may seem inconsequential, but it carries with it the potential for a lifetime of suffering." 

It seems reasonable for us to think the outcomes of what we say and do will be in direct relationship to those words and actions. Surely a moment of being angry will result in just a moment of suffering. But the outcome of our words and behavior have the potential to last not merely for a moment. They have the potential to last for a lifetime.

Fortunately, our caring words and actions born of understanding what another person is undergoing can, in the same way, bring us a lifetime of happiness. By understanding the potential results of our thoughts and behavior, we will gradually learn to be more careful in what we say and in how we act.