This quote is a metaphorical observation about the dangers of appeasement, or giving in to someone’s demands in the hopes of maintaining peace. The crocodile represents a powerful, potentially dangerous entity, and feeding it signifies the act of appeasement. The hope that the crocodile will eat them last implies that by appeasing the entity, they hope to delay or avoid their own destruction.

In other words, Churchill is warning against the strategy of trying to keep a dangerous force at bay by sacrificing others in the hope that it will satisfy the threat and keep oneself safe. He suggests that this is a short-sighted and ultimately self-defeating strategy because the threat will never be truly eliminated, only postponed.

In today’s world, this quote could apply to various situations in politics, business, or personal relationships. For instance, in politics, a country may appease a hostile nation by giving in to its demands, hoping to avoid conflict. However, this could potentially embolden the hostile nation to make more demands or even take aggressive action, knowing that the other country is unwilling to confront them.

In business, a company may continually acquiesce to a demanding client’s needs at the expense of its own resources, hoping to retain their patronage. But this could eventually lead to the company’s downfall if the client’s demands become too great or if they decide to move their business elsewhere regardless.

On a personal level, this could refer to someone who constantly gives in to another person’s demands or manipulative behavior in an attempt to maintain peace. However, this could lead to a toxic relationship where the appeaser is constantly taken advantage of.

In terms of personal development, this quote serves as a reminder of the importance of standing up for oneself and not allowing others to take advantage of one’s kindness or fear of conflict. It suggests that appeasement is not a sustainable strategy for dealing with threats or demands and that it’s vital to address such issues directly rather than trying to avoid them.