With each new day in Africa, a gazelle wakes up knowing he must

The words of Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, ruler, poet, and visionary of the desert, thunder with the eternal rhythm of nature itself: “With each new day in Africa, a gazelle wakes up knowing he must outrun the fastest lion or perish. At the same time, a lion stirs and stretches, knowing he must outrun the fastest gazelle or starve. It's no different for the human race. Whether you consider yourself a gazelle or a lion, you have to run faster than others to survive.” Here is not merely an image of the wild, but a parable of survival, ambition, and perseverance, teaching us that life itself is a contest where the swift, the strong, and the determined endure.

The meaning is powerful and clear: whether predator or prey, whether ruler or commoner, the law of life is the same—struggle. No soul may rise each day and remain idle, for in idleness lies defeat. The gazelle must run for its life; the lion must run for its meal. In the same way, the human race must strive, innovate, and labor with relentless energy, for the world gives no mercy to those who sleep while others run. Survival and success belong not to the complacent, but to those who awaken with purpose and move with speed.

The origin of this saying springs from the deep understanding of nature’s eternal laws. Mohammed bin Rashid, who forged Dubai into a city of marvels from the sands of the desert, speaks from lived truth. His people endured centuries of hardship in a land where survival was uncertain. From this crucible arose the conviction that only through vision, determination, and ceaseless effort can one thrive. The imagery of lions and gazelles captures the fierce balance of nature, where life is not guaranteed but earned each dawn.

History echoes this teaching. Consider the rise of Thomas Edison, who labored relentlessly while others slept. He failed thousands of times in his experiments, yet with every dawn he awoke like the gazelle and the lion—determined to outlast and outwork. His persistence gave light to the world. Had he been idle, the brilliance of electricity might have remained hidden for decades longer. His story proves that those who “run faster” in spirit and in labor carve paths for generations.

The teaching also bears warning. Just as the gazelle cannot afford distraction and the lion cannot waste strength, so too must humans guard against complacency. Many who sit upon comfort forget that others are running, advancing, and striving. Those who fail to run when life demands it find themselves overtaken by hardship, competition, or decline. The law of life spares neither the weak nor the proud; it favors only the vigilant.

The lesson for you, seeker, is this: greet each day as though your survival depends upon it, for in many ways it does. Even if your struggle is not for food or safety, it is for growth, for opportunity, for the future you wish to build. Ask yourself each dawn: “Am I the lion today, or the gazelle?” And in either case, run with all your might. For life rewards neither hesitation nor laziness, but the courage to act and the strength to endure.

Practical actions follow: rise early, set your mind to motion, and refuse to yield to stagnation. Train your body and your spirit to endure long races. Do not envy the position of another, for both lion and gazelle are bound by the same rule: run or perish. Instead, focus on your pace, your growth, and your race. Each step forward strengthens your survival, and each effort adds to your victory.

So remember, children of tomorrow: whether you are the hunter or the hunted, whether life places you as lion or as gazelle, the law is the same—you must run. Run with swiftness, run with purpose, run with endurance. For in this ceaseless race, only those who rise and move with courage carve their mark upon eternity.