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 was standing on the highest mountain of them all, and round about beneath me was the whole hoop of the world. And while I stood there I saw more than I can tell and I understood more than I saw; for I was seeing in a sacred manner the shapes of all things in the spirit, and the shape of all shapes as they must live together like one being. And I saw that the sacred hoop of my people was one of many hoops that made one circle, wide as daylight and as starlight, and in the center grew one mighty flowering tree to shelter all children of one mother and one father. And I saw that it was holy.”

PeopleWorldChildrenMadeI CanWholeTogetherSpiritMotherFatherSawsSeeingTreeGrewHolyShapesMountainHighestUnderstoodStandingAll ThingsSacredRoundsWideCirclesNativeNative AmericanShelterMother EarthDaylightFloweringNative AmericaNative American IndianStarlightNative American EarthNative American Indian InspirationalSacred ThingsFlowering Trees
Author:Black Elk
Create image

“Everything an Indian does is in a circle, and that is because the power of the world always works in circles.”

WorldDoeCirclesIndianNativeNative AmericanAmerican IndianNative American WisdomNative AmericaNative American IndianGreat Native AmericanNative American EarthIndian WisdomNative WisdomNative American Indian InspirationalNative American SpiritualNative American DreamCherokeeSpiritual IndianCherokee Indian
Book:Black Elk Speaks: Being the Life Story of a Holy Man of the Oglala Sioux
Create image

“Hear me, four quarters of the world-a relative I am! Give me the strength to walk the soft earth, a relative to all that is! Give me the eyes to see and the strength to understand, that I may be like you. With your power only can I face the winds.”

WorldGivingMayEyeEarthFacesCommunityJusticeWalksFourAwarenessWindLike YouGive MeSocial JusticeRelativeQuartersGive Me Strength
Book:Black Elk Speaks: Being the Life Story of a Holy Man of the Oglala Sioux
Create image

“Like the grasses showing tender faces to each other, thus should we do, for this was the wish of the Grandfathers of the World.”

WorldShouldFacesWishGrassNativeGrandfatherNative AmericanNative American WisdomNative AmericaNative American IndianIndian WisdomNative WisdomNative American Indian InspirationalNative American SpiritualSpiritual Indian
Book:Black Elk Speaks: Being the Life Story of a Holy Man of the Oglala Sioux
Create image

“Everything an Indian does is in a circle, and that is because the power of the world always works in circles, and everything tries to be round. In the old days when we were a strong and happy people, all our power came to us from the sacred hoop of the nation, and so long as the hoop was unbroken the people flourished.”

PeopleWorldTryingLongDoeStrongNationsSacredRoundsCirclesIndianNativeNative AmericanOld DaysAmerican IndianUnbrokenHappy PeopleNative American WisdomNative AmericaNative American IndianNative WisdomNative American SpiritualSpiritual IndianCherokee Indian
Book:Black Elk Speaks: Being the Life Story of a Holy Man of the Oglala Sioux
Create image

“The power of the world always works in circles.”

WorldCirclesIndianNativeNative AmericanAmerican IndianNative American WisdomNative AmericaNative American IndianGreat Native AmericanNative American EarthIndian WisdomNative WisdomNative American Indian InspirationalNative American SpiritualNative American DreamCherokeeSpiritual IndianNative American ProverbsLakota
Book:Black Elk Speaks: Being the Life Story of a Holy Man of the Oglala Sioux
Create image

“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