"It is useless for the sheep to pass resolutions in favor of vegetarianism, while the wolf remains of a different opinion"

William Ralph Inge employs a striking metaphor to illuminate the disparity between ideals and realities in matters of power and vulnerability. The sheep, representing the weak or vulnerable, may form collective agreements embracing nonviolence, peace, or moral restraint—as symbolized by their preference for vegetarianism. Such resolutions articulate high ethical aspirations and suggest a society where harm is minimized and coexistence prioritized.

However, the presence of the wolf, embodying those who possess strength, coercive power, or predatory instincts, reveals the futility of these aspirations when not universally shared. The wolf’s “different opinion” acknowledges that the powerful’s choices determine outcomes more than the noble intentions of the vulnerable. Inge thus scrutinizes circumstances where ethical frameworks or pacts are unable to safeguard those who rely solely on mutual goodwill, especially when even a single party rejects those norms. The wolf’s dissent undermines the very premise of the sheep’s resolutions, rendering them ineffectual.

This observation extends beyond literal predators and prey, speaking to dynamics of international relations, social justice struggles, diplomatic agreements, and even personal relationships. For example, peace treaties hold value only if all parties commit; laws protect minorities only if enforced impartially. The call is not merely for idealism among the weak but recognition of realpolitik—the world as it is, shaped not just by consensus but by the willingness and ability to enforce agreed standards. Moral posturing, declarations, and resolutions, absent shared commitment and balances of power, remain mere rhetoric when confronted by entities unwilling to restrain themselves.

Inge’s words urge not cynicism but realism. True protection and reform require not just agreement among the well-intentioned but mechanisms—whether legal, social, or practical—to inhibit wolves from acting on predatory impulses. Change is not accomplished solely through virtuous declarations, but through aligning interests, checks on power, and ensuring that the “wolves” either see benefit in restraint or are rendered incapable of predation.