---
title: ▍The Two Wolves
created: 2026-07-15
modified: 2026-07-15
category: Parable
---

An old man took his grandson for a walk through the woods. When they sat down by a creek, he turned to the boy.

“A fight is going on inside me,” he said. “A terrible fight between two wolves.”

The boy sat down beside him and listened.

“One is a dark wolf — envy, anger, greed, fear, hate, guilt, regret, arrogance, anxiety, self-pity, false pride, jealousy, rage, pain.”

He paused.

“The other is a light wolf — love, peace, kindness, joy, hope, gratitude, trust, humility, compassion, empathy, serenity, generosity, optimism.”

The boy looked at the water, asked:

“Which wolf will win?”

The old man put his hand on the boy’s chest, right over his heart.

**“The one you feed.”**