The best fighter is never angry.

The surface meaning is straightforward: a person who excels at combat or conflict resolution does not need to resort to anger. Anger clouds judgment and leads to rash actions, which are counterproductive in any struggle, whether physical or interpersonal. A calm mind is a more effective tool than a furious one.

The deeper Taoist understanding, as articulated in the Tao Te Ching, connects this to the concept of the Tao, the natural, underlying order of the universe. The sage, embodying the Tao, acts without forcing, without egoic assertion. Anger is a manifestation of the ego's resistance to the natural flow. The 'best fighter' in the Taoist sense is not one who conquers others through force, but one who overcomes their own internal discord and aligns with the effortless action (wu wei) of the Tao. This allows them to navigate challenges with wisdom and detachment, like water flowing around obstacles. The sage's strength is in their yielding, their non-contention, their ability to remain unperturbed by external events, reflecting the serene power of the unmanifest Tao.

In your life: When faced with a difficult situation, pause and observe your emotional state. Can you find a calm center before responding, rather than reacting with frustration?