Society is only nine missed meals away from chaos. Comfort is borrowed—hunger collects the debt.

In times of crisis, true leadership isn't measured by charisma or credentials—it's revealed in whether or not people eat. We live in a world of abundance, yet millions go to bed hungry while excess piles up in the hands of a few. Systems are built to serve economies, not always people. And when those systems falter, it's not the powerful who feel it first—it’s the vulnerable. Leadership is not about managing the fallout after hunger takes hold. It’s about preventing the need in the first place. To let people starve—especially when resources exist but are hoarded out of greed—is not a failure of systems, but a failure of moral courage. Food insecurity isn't just a social issue; it’s a leadership test. And if we’re not building with equity, empathy, and foresight, then we’re not leading—we’re simply watching the countdown.

“Only Nine Meals Away”: The Fragile Line Between Order and Anarchy By Theodore “Teddy Bear” Schiele

"There are only nine meals between mankind and anarchy." —Alfred Henry Lewis, 1906

It’s a haunting quote—one that’s echoed through time from revolutionaries to realists, from thinkers like Leon Trotsky to science fiction writers like Robert Heinlein. The idea is simple but sobering: society is held together not by law or loyalty, but by the thin thread of full stomachs. Take away three days of food—and chaos begins to stir.

The Illusion of Stability

Modern society feels sturdy. We have skyscrapers, smart devices, grocery stores stocked to the ceiling. We build systems on systems—supply chains, governments, economic engines—all humming like clockwork. But here’s the thing: a system is only as stable as its weakest link. And for humanity, that link is hunger.

Food insecurity isn’t just a poverty problem. It’s a pressure point. When supply chains stall, prices spike, or access is blocked, what was once ordinary becomes life-threatening. And when survival becomes the only goal, the rules of civilization quickly become optional.

History Repeats with an Empty Plate

Lewis's insight wasn’t theoretical. In 1789, the French Revolution exploded not over lofty ideals, but over the price of bread. In 1917, food shortages helped spark the Russian Revolution. Even in recent memory—Venezuela, Sri Lanka, and parts of the Arab Spring—when people couldn’t eat, they didn’t protest. They revolted.

These weren’t sudden outbursts. They were slow boils—grievances layered over time, ignited by something as primal as an empty stomach.

Why Nine Meals?

Three meals a day. Three days. That’s it.

After the first skipped meal, people feel discomfort. After the third, they feel desperation. By the ninth? Rationality erodes. Morality bends. And what we call “civil society” starts to look a lot like survival of the fittest.

This isn't about panic—it's about preparedness. Nine meals is a countdown. And if we’re not careful, it’s a timer that resets with every crisis: pandemics, power grids, natural disasters, economic collapse.

Leadership in the Tension

What does this mean for us—especially for leaders, changemakers, and builders?

It means real leadership isn’t just about boardrooms and branding. It’s about understanding the hidden tensions that hold society together. It’s about designing systems—economic, political, organizational—that don’t just survive pressure, but respond with strength and compassion.

It means asking:

• Are we building with resilience in mind?

• Are we leading with empathy for the most vulnerable?

• Are we prepared to act not after the ninth missed meal, but before the first?

What Holds Us Together

Civilization isn’t made of concrete or code—it’s made of people. People with needs. People with limits. People who will rise or unravel depending on how we lead them when the system cracks.

So yes—there are only nine meals between order and anarchy. But there’s also a chance, in those nine meals, to step up. To create trust. To build solutions. To lead people through the hunger, not just around it.

Because true leadership shows up when the plates are empty and the pressure is high.

And if you're ready to lead with clarity, resilience, and purpose—I’d love to help you build systems that don’t break when the world does.

📍 Schedule a free discovery call with me at: https://bearschiele.com/discovery-call/