A Cherokee elder was teaching his young grandson about…
““A Cherokee elder was teaching his young grandson about life. "A fight is going on inside me," he said to the boy. "It is a terrible fight and it is between two wolves. One is evil- he is anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, self-doubt and ego. The other is good- he is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith. This same fight is going on inside you—and inside every other person, too." The boy thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather, "Which wolf will win?" The elder simply replied, "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.
An elder explains that inside each person there is a battle between evil (negative emotions) and good (positive virtues); the one you feed determines which dominates.
In simple terms: Feed the good side to nurture virtue.
Key Takeaway
Choose kindness and positivity over negativity.
Themes
inner conflict
morality
choice
virtue
emotions
Mood
inspirational
thoughtful
Type
Cherokee
False pride
Life
Lion
Love hope
Peace
Peace love
Two wolves
Grandfather Wolf
Wolves Evil
Fight Wolves
Evil Anger
Cherokee Elder
When to use this quote
- personal development
- conflict resolution
- parenting
- mental health therapy
Key Concepts
psychology of self
ethical teaching
indigenous wisdom
Questions to Reflect On
- Which “wolf” do you feed today?
- How can you nurture the good side?
A Different Perspective
The metaphor oversimplifies complex human psychology.