The Story of the Two Wolves

Pixabay.com public domain illustration

One evening an old Lakota told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people.

He said, "My son, the battle is between two wolves inside us all. One is evil. It has anger, envy, jealousy, doubt, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego."

He continued, "The other is good. It has joy, peace, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, forgiveness, truth, compassion, and faith."

The grandson thought about it for a minute, and then asked his grandfather, “Which wolf wins?"

The old Lakota simply replied, “The one you feed.”

Lessons From History

Public domain artwork credit: Pixabay 

I found this quote from Professor Barker on social media; we need these encouraging words in our troubled times.

History is the story of what men and women have thought and done in the past. 

It tells how they have lived and struggled and worked. 

It tells how they have suffered from errors, false ideas, and misfortunes. 

But it tells also how they have continued for many thousands of years to make the world always a happier and more comfortable place in which to live. 

There are sad, discouraging chapters in the book of history, but it tells a cheerful story when we read it as a whole, for the successes of the men and women of the past have been far greater than their failures. 

From these peoples of the past, we have gained a background of strength, of ability, and of courage.

                                                     

Eugene Campbell Barker (1874 – 1956)                               

Chair of the History Department

The University of Texas