"I understand both sides of that. Both sides, because I've been faced with blind, unreasoning anger too many times in my life -- but I've also been frustratingly, helplessly angry. I've flinched when someone so much as raised their voice or lifted a hand, but I've also mocked and needled men I knew were going to strike me regardless." It's the sort of admission that can only be made at a bar (Claudius thinks dryly to himself). But perhaps it's a good thing, that he and Laertes at least found a way to be angry about the same thing. "It is satisfying," he admits, "to direct anger in the proper direction, at times. Almost like solving a puzzle. It was a great mystery to me why was I've been angry for most of my life, until I realized my faith was such a looming force I didn't even consider breaking free of it."