The law of the jungle
Meaning
This phrase describes a situation where the strongest or most ruthless prevail, and there is no real order, morality, or justice beyond the struggle for survival.
Origin
While the concept of a natural world governed by ruthless struggle existed long before, the phrase itself was famously popularized by Rudyard Kipling in his collection of stories, "The Jungle Book," published in 1894. Kipling's tales, set in the Indian jungle, presented a structured yet harsh code among the animals, particularly wolves, which Mowgli learns. He actually presented it as a complex system of rules, not pure chaos. However, the phrase quickly took on a much more negative, metaphorical meaning in popular culture, representing a brutal, lawless environment where only the strongest survive and morality takes a backseat to instinct and self-preservation. It became a powerful, visceral image of untamed competition and raw power, far removed from Kipling's nuanced animal society.
Examples
- In the cutthroat world of corporate takeovers, it felt like the law of the jungle, with companies fighting ruthlessly for market share.
- Without proper governance, the newly colonized territory quickly devolved into a state where the law of the jungle dictated interactions.