An old Cherokee man was teaching his grandson about life…
““An old Cherokee man was teaching his grandson about life. “A fight is going on inside me,” he told the boy. “It is a terrible fight between two wolves. One is evil — he is anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.” After a few moments to make sure he had the boy’s undivided attention, he continued. “The other wolf is good — he is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith. The same fight is going on inside of you, boy, and inside of every other person, too.” The grandson thought about this for a few minutes before replying. “Which wolf will win?” The old Cherokee man simply said, “The one you feed, boy. The one you feed…””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The inner conflict between negative and positive emotions is resolved by choosing which to nurture.
In simple terms: Feed the good wolf to cultivate positive traits.
Key Takeaway
Nurture positivity.
Themes
inner conflict
choice
emotions
growth
Mood
reflective
inspirational
Type
proverbial
teaching
When to use this quote
- personal development
- parenting
- conflict resolution
- mental health
- spiritual practice
Key Concepts
psychology
morality
self‑control
Questions to Reflect On
- What emotions do you feed daily?
- How can you shift focus to positive traits?
A Different Perspective
If negative emotions dominate, they can overwhelm despite effort.