The Leopard and the Ram's Charge

A Leopard was terrorizing a flock of sheep, and the shepherd could do nothing to stop it. The largest Ram in the flock, who was old and wise, decided to face the Leopard. He did not try to fight it in the open. Instead, he stood at the top of a steep, rocky hill. He called down and insulted the Leopard, daring it to come and fight him. The Leopard, full of pride and anger, began to charge up the rocky slope. The Ram waited until the Leopard was halfway up, scrambling for footing on the loose rocks. Then, the Ram lowered his great, curved horns and charged downwards with all his might. He struck the Leopard with the force of a falling boulder, sending the predator tumbling down the hill, broken and defeated. The story teaches a key Zulu military principle: do not fight your enemy on his terms. Use the terrain to your advantage, and turn your enemy's own aggressive momentum against him.