Compassionate Quote by Black Hawk
“A Native American grandfather was talking to his grandson about how he felt. He said, 'I feel as if I have two wolves fighting in my heart. One wolf is the vengeful, violent one, the other wolf is the loving compassionate one.' The grandson asked him, 'Which wolf will win the fight in your heart?' The grandfather answered, 'The one I feed.'”
About This Quote
Source Oral tradition: Native American storytelling, date unspecified
The story uses two wolves as a metaphor for internal conflict between aggression and compassion, teaching that the dominant trait is the one we nurture
In simple terms: Our inner character depends on what we choose to develop
Key Takeaway
Feed compassion to shape your heart
Themes
wisdom
inner conflict
choice
Mood
reflective
inspirational
Type
storytelling
ethical
When to use this quote
- personal growth
- conflict resolution
- parental guidance
- cultural education
Key Concepts
dual nature
mindfulness
Questions to Reflect On
- Which wolf do you feed daily?
- How does nurturing compassion affect your actions?
A Different Perspective
Focusing on negative traits can also dominate if not consciously managed
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![“[Chinese] are a huge empire now, you'll soon be - in a few years two billion people in the world. So, you should be more compassionate, more understanding. And above all, you don't need all their trouble.” quote by Elie Wiesel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/751/elie-wiesel-341_billions_chinese-are-a-huge-empire-now-you-ll-soo_28398.jpg)
