The Iranians have shot down drones. They tried to destroy the

Hear now the words spoken by John Kennedy, a senator of our own age, who declared with fervor: “The Iranians have shot down drones. They tried to destroy the Saudi oil fields. They tried to storm our embassy. So, when my Democratic friends say we need appeasement, well appeasement hasn’t worked. And I think that we’ve learned, with respect to Iran, that weakness invites the wolves.” Though framed in the disputes of nations, his saying carries the weight of a timeless truth, one known by kings and warriors, shepherds and poets alike: when men or nations reveal weakness, those who hunger for dominion will descend upon them as wolves upon sheep.

The wolves Kennedy speaks of are not merely creatures of the wild. They are symbols of those forces that test the strength of every tribe, kingdom, and soul. They represent the relentless powers—be they armies, tyrants, or treacherous ambitions—that seek to seize what belongs to others. His warning echoes the voices of the ancients: that in times of peril, mere appeasement—the offering of tribute to stave off conflict—does not quench the thirst of the aggressor but instead emboldens him. For each morsel fed to the wolf only sharpens its hunger.

Let us recall the tale of the great statesman Winston Churchill, who in the days before the Second World War warned Britain and the world against the policy of appeasement toward Adolf Hitler. When the powers of Europe gave over lands and liberties to buy peace, they thought the wolves would be satisfied. But the hunger of the Reich only grew, until all of Europe was devoured in war. Churchill, who once stood almost alone, declared that one who feeds a crocodile hoping it will eat him last is still destined to be eaten. Kennedy’s words rise from this same wisdom—that to yield to aggression is not to find peace, but to invite destruction.

So too, history teaches us of the empires that stood firm. Consider Rome in its prime. When the barbarians tested her borders, the legions did not scatter offerings at their feet, nor did they send soft words in place of steel. Instead, they marched, and by their discipline and might, the wolves were held at bay for centuries. Where Rome faltered in later days was not at the sword’s edge, but when corruption and complacency sapped her strength, and her enemies saw the cracks. It was not cruelty that destroyed her, but weakness.

The emotional heart of Kennedy’s words, then, is not merely about Iran or embassies, but about the eternal struggle of human beings against those forces that prey upon hesitation. He urges that peace is preserved not by feeding the wolves, but by showing them the strength that bids them keep their distance. For in the law of nature and nations, it is ever thus: predators respect strength, and they devour the weak.

O children of tomorrow, let this be your lesson: never surrender your dignity, your truth, or your liberty in the hope that those who wish you harm will relent. To give over your strength is to light a beacon for the wolves. Instead, cultivate courage, speak boldly, and defend what is yours with honor. Whether in the council of nations or in the quiet struggles of your own heart, remember that weakness invites the wolves, but steadfastness commands respect.

The practical path is this: when faced with injustice in your life, do not seek to appease it, hoping it will pass. If a friend, an employer, or a rival presses upon you unjustly, do not yield inch after inch, for soon your ground will be gone. Speak firmly, set your boundaries, and, when necessary, resist with strength of character. And when you see others bullied or oppressed, lend them your voice and shield, that they may not be left as lambs for the wolves.

Thus, in the end, Kennedy’s words are less about politics than about the eternal law of life: the strong must remain vigilant, and the righteous must remain courageous. For wolves roam in every age, cloaked in many forms. And if you are steadfast, if you do not falter, then you will not only preserve yourself—you will preserve peace, not by appeasement, but by the enduring strength that keeps the wolves at bay.