“To sit back hoping that someday, some way, someone will make things right is to go on feeding the crocodile, hoping he will eat you last – but eat you he will.”
- February 6, 1911 – June 5, 2004
- American
- The 40th President of the United States, Actor, Politician, Governor of California
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Quote
“To sit back hoping that someday, some way, someone will make things right is to go on feeding the crocodile, hoping he will eat you last – but eat you he will.”
Explanation
In this quote, Ronald Reagan delivers a forceful warning against complacency in the face of rising threats, particularly those posed by tyranny and totalitarianism. The metaphor of “feeding the crocodile” echoes a famous saying by Winston Churchill and conveys the idea that appeasement or inaction only delays the inevitable danger. Reagan’s message is that waiting passively for others to act, especially in matters of freedom and justice, ultimately leads to one’s own destruction.
The historical context of this statement is tied to the Cold War, during which Reagan strongly opposed appeasement of the Soviet Union and other authoritarian regimes. He believed that freedom required vigilance, resolve, and proactive defense, and that democracies must confront evil before it grows stronger. The crocodile metaphor suggests that those who accommodate oppressive forces in the hope of safety will eventually be consumed by them, making moral clarity and early resistance imperative.
Today, this quote remains relevant in discussions about geopolitical threats, authoritarianism, and moral leadership. Whether applied to foreign policy, domestic injustice, or institutional decay, Reagan’s words emphasize that avoiding confrontation in the hope of temporary peace often invites greater danger later. It serves as a lasting reminder that the defense of liberty and justice demands courage, not passivity, and that failing to act against encroaching evil ultimately imperils everyone.
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