Quotessence
Home / Authors / Black Elk
Black Elk

Black Elk Quotes

Medicine man

Filter quotes by topic

AllNative AmericanNativeNative AmericaWorldMenNative American IndianNative American DreamNative American WisdomNative WisdomPeopleCirclesIndian WisdomNative American EarthNative American Indian InspirationalNative American SpiritualVisionEarthSpiritAmerican IndianIndian

Famous Black Elk Quotes

“I cured with the power that came through me. Of course, it was not I who cured,it was the power from the Outer World; the visions and ceremonies only made me like a whole through which the power could come to the two-leggeds. If I thought that I was doing it myself, the hole would close up and no power could come through. Then everything I could do would be foolish.”

IfsWorldMadeTwoWholeWould BeCoursesVisionFoolishHolesCeremonyOuter WorldsNative American Dream
Author:Black Elk
Create image

“Crazy Horse dreamed and went into the world where there is nothing but the spirits of things. That is the real world that is behind this one, and everything we see here is something like a shadow from that world.... It was this vision that gave him his great power, for when he went into a fight, he had only to think of that world to be in it again, so that he could go through anything and not be hurt”

ThinkingWorldRealSpiritFightingHurtBehindsVisionCrazyShadowHorseReal WorldGreat PowerCrazy Horse
Book:Black Elk Speaks: Being the Life Story of a Holy Man of the Oglala Sioux
Create image

“Also, as I lay there thinking of my vision, I could see it all again and feel the meaning with a part of me like a strange power glowing in my body; but when the part of me that talks would try to make words for the meaning, it would be like fog and get away from me.”

ThinkingFeelsTryingBodyWould BeVisionStrangeLaysGet AwayFogTry AgainGlowing
Book:Black Elk Speaks: Being the Life Story of a Holy Man of the Oglala Sioux
Create image

“You remember that my great vision came to me when I was only nine years old, and you have seen that I was not much good for anything until after I had performed the horse dance near the mouth of the Tongue River during my eighteenth summer.”

YearsRememberVisionSummerMouthsRiversHorseTongueNineNine YearsGreat Vision
Book:Black Elk Speaks: Being the Life Story of a Holy Man of the Oglala Sioux
Create image