Smiling Faces, Hidden Fangs

In the quiet depth of an ancient forest, three creatures lived together: the mighty lion, the naïve zebra, and the cunning fox. On the surface, they appeared to be friends. But as with many friendships in life, things are not always what they seem.

One day, the lion fell sick. Hungry and frail, he craved soft meat to recover his strength. He asked the fox, his close companion, to find him something tender to eat. The fox, sensing the danger of saying no, left with a heavy heart—and a dangerous plan.

He found the zebra and told him the lion had chosen him to be king.

“Me? A king?” the zebra asked with wide eyes.

“Yes,” said the fox. “You’ve been chosen. Come with me.”

Blinded by ambition and flattered by the idea of royalty, the zebra followed. But the moment he arrived, the lion pounced, biting off his ears in the attack. Somehow, the zebra escaped and fled.

“Why did you run?” the fox asked him later. “The lion only bit your ears to make room for the crown!”

Once again, blinded by ambition and a desire to believe in something greater, the zebra agreed to return. This time, the lion bit off his tail. The zebra escaped again, limping and confused.

But ambition has a way of silencing caution. When the fox found him a third time, he explained: “That was just so you can sit comfortably on the throne. The tail was in the way.”

One final time, the zebra went back—and this time, he didn’t escape. The lion killed him and asked the fox to prepare his meal: the brain, liver, heart, and kidneys. The fox brought all but one—the brain. He had eaten it himself.

When the lion asked where it was, the fox replied, “Zebra had no brain. If he did, he wouldn’t have come back three times.”

Lesson One: The Friends We Keep

This tale is not just about animals—it’s about us. Our friendships. Our trust. Our ambition.

Not everyone around you is your friend. Some will lure you toward destruction with smiles and sweet words. Others will use you to survive. In this story, the zebra had two threats: the lion who sought to consume him, and the fox who pretended to be his friend.

How many people in your life have the same energy as the fox—smiling on the surface but secretly guiding you to harm? Maybe it’s time to reevaluate. Maybe it’s time to let some people go.

We must ask ourselves: Who is genuinely rooting for my success, and who is just hanging around to benefit when I fall?

Lesson Two: Ambition Without Awareness

The zebra was so desperate to be king that he ignored all the signs. First, his ears were bitten off. Then his tail. Still, he believed in the dream sold to him by the fox.

In life, ambition is essential. But blind ambition is deadly. When we’re so focused on the crown, we forget the cost. We forget to question the path we’re on. We ignore pain, dismiss red flags, and trust the wrong people because we’re chasing a dream that may not even exist.

Ambition without awareness can destroy you. Ask yourself: What am I chasing, and what am I losing in the process?

Lesson Three: Truth and Deception

The lion believed the fox’s lies because he had seen, with his own eyes, how easily the zebra could be deceived. He assumed anyone who could be fooled that easily had no brain—and that lie became believable.

This is the danger of lies. They often work not because they are clever, but because the truth is too painful to face. The zebra wanted to be king so badly that he accepted absurd explanations. Sound familiar?

In life, we must develop the ability to tell the truth from lies. We must be discerning—because the cost of trusting the wrong narrative is often irreversible.

Lesson Four: The Illusion of Control and Predestiny

Could the zebra have avoided his fate? Or was it written in the stars that he would be deceived and devoured?

This brings us to a deeper question: Are our lives predetermined, or do we have the power to choose differently?

The fox avoided death by offering someone else. He adapted. He made choices to preserve himself, while the zebra, driven by blind faith, walked into doom.

We must believe that we have the power to change our story. The zebra had chances. He escaped—twice. But he chose to go back. Sometimes, fate gives us exits, but we mistake them for detours and head right back into danger.

Lesson Five: What Do You Want from Life?

This story asks a haunting question: What are we truly pursuing?

We live in a world full of distractions and illusions—titles, crowns, thrones, applause. But at what cost?

The fox knew the value of the brain. The lion wanted the heart, the liver, the kidneys—and the brain. But in the end, the brain belonged to the fox.

Think about that. The one who survives is not the strongest. It's not the one who wants the most. It’s the one who thinks the best.

So, what’s your plan? What’s your brain strategy? Are you the zebra, rushing into the promise of the throne? Or are you the fox—discerning, strategic, and ahead?

Conclusion: Make Meaning of Your Life

This isn't just a fable. It's a mirror.

Ask yourself:

Who are my real friends?

What am I truly chasing?

Do I know the truth, or do I just believe what's convenient?

Am I thinking with my brain—or following someone else's dream?

Life is too precious to live without reflection. You are not the zebra unless you choose to be. You are not the lion unless you consume others to survive. And you are not the fox unless you are cunning without compassion.

You are you—and that’s your greatest power.

Live wisely. Love deeply. Think clearly. And above all, stay awake.

Because the world is full of lions and foxes—but only those with brains survive.