Cherokee Quote by Tsalagi Tale
““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
Source Oral tradition: Cherokee teaching story, unknown source
Inner conflict is portrayed as two wolves representing negative and positive traits; feeding one strengthens it.
In simple terms: Two wolves inside us: one bad, one good; we choose which to nurture.
Key Takeaway
Nurture positive qualities.
Themes
self‑control
morality
psychology
Mood
reflective
inspirational
Type
parabolic
teaching
When to use this quote
- personal growth
- teaching children
- overcoming negativity
- mindfulness practice
Key Concepts
dual nature
choice
inner dialogue
Questions to Reflect On
- Which positive trait will you feed today?
- How can you balance both wolves?
A Different Perspective
Simplifies complex emotions to a binary, ignoring nuance.
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