---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Cheer the bull, or cheer the bear; cheer…"
description: "\"Cheer the bull, or cheer the bear; cheer both, and you will be trampled and eaten.\" — Robert Jordan"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f87/robert-jordan-438_bear_cheer-the-bull-or-cheer-the-bear-cheer-b_1934244.jpg"
---

#  Cheer the bull, or cheer the bear; cheer both, and you…

![“Cheer the bull, or cheer the bear; cheer both, and you will be trampled and eaten.” quote by Robert Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f87/robert-jordan-438_bear_cheer-the-bull-or-cheer-the-bear-cheer-b_1934244.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f87/robert-jordan-438_bear_cheer-the-bull-or-cheer-the-bear-cheer-b_1934244.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f87/robert-jordan-438_bear_cheer-the-bull-or-cheer-the-bear-cheer-b_1934244.jpg)

> “Cheer the bull, or cheer the bear; cheer both, and you will be trampled and eaten.”

[Robert Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jordan/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Attempting to please everyone leads to being exploited by both sides.

**In simple terms:** Trying to satisfy all sides backfires.

Key Takeaway

Pick a clear stance.

Themes

conflict balance consequences

Mood

cautious reflective

Type

advice philosophical

When to use this quote

- relationships
- business negotiations
- political activism

Key Concepts

political strategy personal integrity

Questions to Reflect On

- Do you often try to please everyone?
- What are the costs of indecision?

A Different Perspective

Neutrality can invite exploitation.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Bear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bear/) [Bear Cheer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bear-cheer-3044936/) [Bears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bears/) [Bull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bull/) [Bull Cheer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bull-cheer-3044935/) [Bulls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bulls/) [Cheer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cheer/) [Cheer Bear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cheer-bear-3044937/) [Cheer Bull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cheer-bull-3044934/) [Positive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/positive/) [Sides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sides/) [Taking sides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taking-sides/) [Trampled Eaten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trampled-eaten-3044938/)

## Related quotes

> [Taking sides cannot bring peace and balance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aung-san-suu-kyi/taking-sides-cannot-bring-peace-and-balance/)

[Aung San Suu Kyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aung-san-suu-kyi/)

> [“In order to observe the movement of your own mind and heart, of your whole being, you must have a free mind, not a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/in-order-to-observe-the-movement-of-your-own-mind-and-heart-of-your/)

[Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/)

> [“Decolonization is the process whereby we intend the conditions we want to live and social relations we wish to have. We have to supplant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harsha-walia/decolonization-is-the-process-whereby-we-intend-the-conditions-we/)

[Harsha Walia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harsha-walia/)

> [“What can we do when we have hurt people and nowthey consider us to be their enemy? Thereare few things to do. The first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thich-nhat-hanh-peace-is-every-step-the-path-of-mindfulness-in-everyday-life/what-can-we-do-when-we-have-hurt-people-and-nowthey-consider-us-to-be/)

[Thich Nhat Hanh-Peace Is Every Step: The Path of Mindfulness in Everyday Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thich-nhat-hanh-peace-is-every-step-the-path-of-mindfulness-in-everyday-life/)

> [Leaders should be careful of jumping to conclusions or taking sides. It rarely ends well...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/leaders-should-be-careful-of-jumping-to-conclusions-or-taking-sides/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“A Gentleperson understands that it’s better not to take sides. If a Gentleperson decides on taking sides, then they shall take both sides, for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anas-hamshari/a-gentleperson-understands-that-it-s-better-not-to-take-sides-if-a/)

[Anas Hamshari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anas-hamshari/)

> [Taking sides is the beginning of sincerity, and earnestness follows shortly afterwards, and the human being becomes a bore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/taking-sides-is-the-beginning-of-sincerity-and-earnestness-follows/)

[Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/)

> [I love giving you my opinion, but I don't like taking sides.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-corabi/i-love-giving-you-my-opinion-but-i-don-t-like-taking-sides/)

[John Corabi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-corabi/)

> [“While we recognize the deep roots white supremacy has in the consciousness of most white people, we do not believe that only a handful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/love-and-rage/while-we-recognize-the-deep-roots-white-supremacy-has-in-the/)

[Love and Rage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/love-and-rage/)

> [“If it is true that God dislikes taking sides, I should feel no awkwardness in His presence, so pleased would I be to imitate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emil-cioran/if-it-is-true-that-god-dislikes-taking-sides-i-should-feel-no/)

[Emil Cioran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emil-cioran/)

> [“Thus, in that inevitable taking of sides which comes from selection and emphasis in history, I prefer to try to tell the story of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-zinn/thus-in-that-inevitable-taking-of-sides-which-comes-from-selection/)

[Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/)

> [It's very easy for someone to take sides when they only know one of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-s-very-easy-for-someone-to-take-sides-when-they-only-know-one-of/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“In fact, I couldn't help thinking that despite their height, adults were just plain unbelievably stupid: men were blowing up other men; soldiers were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-busfield/in-fact-i-couldn-t-help-thinking-that-despite-their-height-adults/)

[Andrea Busfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-busfield/)

> [“Echoing right-wing racist rhetoric, liberal organizations routinely smear "illegitimate," nonpacifist resistance as senseless and the work of irrational "thugs." And yet it is precisely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tipu-s-tiger/echoing-right-wing-racist-rhetoric-liberal-organizations-routinely/)

[Tipu's Tiger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tipu-s-tiger/)

> [“But harder heads saw another advantage in taking sides in a distant struggle: Britain and France owed massive debts to American companies. If the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-e-persico/but-harder-heads-saw-another-advantage-in-taking-sides-in-a-distant/)

[Joseph E. Persico](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-e-persico/)

## More by Robert Jordan

> [“It was an odd thing Tam had taught him. Concentrate on a single flame and feed all your passions into it—fear, hate, anger—until your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jordan/it-was-an-odd-thing-tam-had-taught-him-concentrate-on-a-single-flame/)

[Robert Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jordan/)

> [“Relax, lad. Take life as it comes. Run when you have to, fight when you must, rest when you can.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jordan/relax-lad-take-life-as-it-comes-run-when-you-have-to-fight-when-you/)

[Robert Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jordan/)

> [“As she spoke, the dice started tumbling inside his head.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jordan/as-she-spoke-the-dice-started-tumbling-inside-his-head/)

[Robert Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jordan/)

> [There was a wild light in his eyes. "Bring your lightnings, Aes Sedai. I will dance with them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jordan/there-was-a-wild-light-in-his-eyes-bring-your-lightnings-aes-sedai-i/)

[Robert Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jordan/)

> [My mother always told me the best way to learn to deal with a man was to learn to ride a mule. She said…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jordan/my-mother-always-told-me-the-best-way-to-learn-to-deal-with-a-man-was/)

[Robert Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jordan/)

> [“The Wheel weaves as the Wheel wills, Perrin. We’ve become what we needed to become.” Perrin”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jordan/the-wheel-weaves-as-the-wheel-wills-perrin-we-ve-become-what-we/)

[Robert Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jordan/)

> [“All of you, fare well, and may you shelter in the palm of the Creator’s hand.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jordan/all-of-you-fare-well-and-may-you-shelter-in-the-palm-of-the-creator-s/)

[Robert Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jordan/)

> [If it's not forbidden, then it's allowed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jordan/if-it-s-not-forbidden-then-it-s-allowed/)

[Robert Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jordan/)

> [“Stay and get married, or travel the Ways." Loial grimaced ruefully. "Life is very unsettling with ta'veren for friends.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jordan/stay-and-get-married-or-travel-the-ways-loial-grimaced-ruefully-life/)

[Robert Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jordan/)

> [“Who would sup with the mighty must climb the path of daggers. -Anonymous notation found inked in the margin of a manuscript history (believed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jordan/who-would-sup-with-the-mighty-must-climb-the-path-of-daggers/)

[Robert Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jordan/)

> [Men always seem to refuse to admit they are sick until they're sick enough to make twice as much work for women. Then they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jordan/men-always-seem-to-refuse-to-admit-they-are-sick-until-they-re-sick/)

[Robert Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jordan/)

> [Beauty holds more worth than gold.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jordan/beauty-holds-more-worth-than-gold/)

[Robert Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jordan/)

> [When the honey's out of the comb, there's no putting it back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jordan/when-the-honey-s-out-of-the-comb-there-s-no-putting-it-back/)

[Robert Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jordan/)

> [Death comes to us all; we can only choose how to face it when it comes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jordan/death-comes-to-us-all-we-can-only-choose-how-to-face-it-when-it-comes/)

[Robert Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jordan/)

> [“Burn me," Mat said, throwing on the shirt he dug out of the bundle. "I'll give you a hundred Tar Valon marks if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jordan/burn-me-mat-said-throwing-on-the-shirt-he-dug-out-of-the-bundle-i-ll/)

[Robert Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jordan/)

[Explore all 553 Robert Jordan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jordan/)

## More Bear quotes

> [“Hobson was big and heavyset, but not exactly fat; he was probably what you’d get if you shaved a bear.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/hobson-was-big-and-heavyset-but-not-exactly-fat-he-was-probably-what/)

[Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/)

> [I looked at Randy White... I looked at Klecko. I looked at Gino Marchetti. I looked at a lot of players. Bob Lilly. There…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howie-long/i-looked-at-randy-white-i-looked-at-klecko-i-looked-at-gino-marchetti/)

[Howie Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howie-long/)

> [“Hand in hand they whispered for a while. The girl nodded and the bear laughed. Together, they made their way down the corridor and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-craig/hand-in-hand-they-whispered-for-a-while-the-girl-nodded-and-the-bear/)

[Stephen Craig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-craig/)

> [No one likes to admit they are racist or bear prejudices. Nor do they even like to be open and honest when they witness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-jacques/no-one-likes-to-admit-they-are-racist-or-bear-prejudices-nor-do-they/)

[Martin Jacques](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-jacques/)

> [I'm Irish and always will be, but America has taught me so much. Maybe it's here in the U.S. that we find a healing,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fionnula-flanagan/i-m-irish-and-always-will-be-but-america-has-taught-me-so-much-maybe/)

[Fionnula Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fionnula-flanagan/)

> [Getting head-to-head with a polar bear was amazing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michaela-strachan/getting-head-to-head-with-a-polar-bear-was-amazing/)

[Michaela Strachan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michaela-strachan/)

> [“I have always held… that the skin of the bear must not be distributed until the bear has been killed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-r-manchester/i-have-always-held-that-the-skin-of-the-bear-must-not-be-distributed/)

[William R. Manchester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-r-manchester/)

> [When I was in Greenough, Montana, I came across a bear cub. I was off this path, and I thought, If there's a bear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-roker/when-i-was-in-greenough-montana-i-came-across-a-bear-cub-i-was-off/)

[Al Roker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-roker/)

> [I was much more upset by the situation with Jacob than by the possibility of being eaten by a bear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephenie-meyer/i-was-much-more-upset-by-the-situation-with-jacob-than-by-the/)

[Stephenie Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephenie-meyer/)

> [I like men. They are hugely entertaining, but they have a lot of shortcomings and you just have to bear those in mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-brand/i-like-men-they-are-hugely-entertaining-but-they-have-a-lot-of/)

[Jo Brand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-brand/)

> [Yogi Bear changed my life in ways that I can't explain because it's not a full feature on me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-j-miller/yogi-bear-changed-my-life-in-ways-that-i-can-t-explain-because-it-s/)

[T. J. Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-j-miller/)

> [“Rabbit underground, rabbit safe and sound.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-adams/rabbit-underground-rabbit-safe-and-sound/)

[Richard Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-adams/)

> [Are there bears in these mountains?" he asked. His companion nodded. "Of course. But it's a bit early in the year for them to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flanagan/are-there-bears-in-these-mountains-he-asked-his-companion-nodded-of/)

[John Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flanagan/)

> [“Fighting with tangles, fighting with curls, the poor barber yanked, the poor barber pulled, until with one last effort (and to the wonder of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mili-fay/fighting-with-tangles-fighting-with-curls-the-poor-barber-yanked-the/)

[Mili Fay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mili-fay/)

> [Bears are simultaneously so graceful and so strong. Bears know who they are, but they often don’t know who you are, which is why…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-birbiglia/bears-are-simultaneously-so-graceful-and-so-strong-bears-know-who/)

[Mike Birbiglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-birbiglia/)

[Browse all 827 Bear quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bear/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Cheer the bull, or cheer the bear; cheer both, and you will be trampled and eaten.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Robert Jordan"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jordan/cheer-the-bull-or-cheer-the-bear-cheer-both-and-you-will-be-trampled/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Bear"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jordan/cheer-the-bull-or-cheer-the-bear-cheer-both-and-you-will-be-trampled/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f87/robert-jordan-438_bear_cheer-the-bull-or-cheer-the-bear-cheer-b_1934244.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f87/robert-jordan-438_bear_cheer-the-bull-or-cheer-the-bear-cheer-b_1934244.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f87/robert-jordan-438_bear_cheer-the-bull-or-cheer-the-bear-cheer-b_1934244.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Cheer the bull, or cheer the bear; cheer both, and you will be trampled and eaten.” — Robert Jordan",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Robert Jordan",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jordan/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Cheer the bull, or cheer the...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jordan/cheer-the-bull-or-cheer-the-bear-cheer-both-and-you-will-be-trampled/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jordan/cheer-the-bull-or-cheer-the-bear-cheer-both-and-you-will-be-trampled/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
