The tiger crept through the tangled jungle ... He put one…
““The tiger crept through the tangled jungle ... He put one paw softly before the next, barely disturbing the song of the magpies far above ... But when the tiger reached the edge of the forest, he stopped short. The goat was walking along the shore, his white hooves prancing at the very edge of the tumbling azure waves of the Indian Ocean ... He stopped in the speckled shade of a bongo-bongo tree-' 'But, Miss Gabby,' Phoebe broke in anxiously, 'what did the tiger have for supper that night if he didn't eat the goat? Wouldn't he be hungry?' Gabby's brown eyes lit with amusement. 'Perhaps the tiger was so mortified by his own lack of courage that he went to a far-off mountaintop and lived on nothing but fruits and vegetables.' 'I don't think so.' Phoebe was a very practical little girl. 'I think it's more likely that the tiger would have gone after that goat and eaten him up.' 'The tiger had a cat's natural abhorrence for water,' Gabby said. 'He didn't see the beauty of the waves as they danced into shore. To him the curling waves looked like the claws of tiny crabs, reaching out to nibble his bones!””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
A tiger, despite its strength, is paralyzed by fear, while a goat confidently approaches danger, highlighting how courage shapes perception of threats.
In simple terms: Fear can freeze the strong; confidence moves the meek.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and act despite fear.
Themes
courage
fear
perception
confidence
nature
Mood
anxious
reflective
inspirational
Type
narrative
allegorical
motivational
When to use this quote
- personal growth
- leadership
- overcoming anxiety
- decision making
Key Concepts
psychology
animal symbolism
human behavior
Questions to Reflect On
- What fear holds you back?
- How can you reframe threats as opportunities?
A Different Perspective
Even the brave can be halted by imagined threats.