--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A Native American grandfather was talking…" description: "\"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..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/acf/black-hawk-36816_compassionate_a-native-american-grandfather-was-talkin_1493066.jpg" --- # A Native American grandfather was talking to his grandson… ![“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?'…” quote by Black Hawk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/acf/black-hawk-36816_compassionate_a-native-american-grandfather-was-talkin_1493066.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/acf/black-hawk-36816_compassionate_a-native-american-grandfather-was-talkin_1493066.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/acf/black-hawk-36816_compassionate_a-native-american-grandfather-was-talkin_1493066.jpg) > “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.'” [Black Hawk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/black-hawk/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. 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 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Asked Wolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asked-wolf-1002365/) [Compassionate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compassionate/) [Feel Wolves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feel-wolves-5458706/) [Feels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feels/) [Felt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/felt/) [Fighting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fighting/) [Grandfather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grandfather/) [Grandfather Answered](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grandfather-answered-642296/) [Grandfather Talking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grandfather-talking-5458705/) [Grandson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grandson/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Lion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lion/) [My heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/my-heart/) [Native](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/native/) [Native american](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/native-american/) [Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Talking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talking/) [Two](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/two/) [Two wolves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/two-wolves/) [Vengeful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vengeful/) [Violent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/violent/) [Winning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/winning/) [Words of wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/words-of-wisdom/) ## Related quotes > [“A Native American grandfather was speaking to his grandson about violence and cruelty in the world and how it comes about. 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It either makes you compassionate or it makes you hard.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-wilson-howarth/seeing-human-suffering-changes-you-it-either-makes-you-compassionate/) [Jane Wilson-Howarth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-wilson-howarth/) > [It has been hard to muster the resources to support fledgling democracies and to intervene on behalf of the most desperate. The AIDS orphans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/condoleezza-rice/it-has-been-hard-to-muster-the-resources-to-support-fledgling/) [Condoleezza Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/condoleezza-rice/) > [It is not enough to be compassionate, we must act.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-not-enough-to-be-compassionate-we-must-act/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [God is compassionate and just, loving and holy, wrathful and forgiving. 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