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Joseph Bruchac

Joseph Bruchac Quotes

Writer

Joseph Bruchac is an American writer born on October 16, 1942. His works primarily revolve around Native American culture, especially the legends and stories related to the Iroquois. Bruchac's works are beloved for their rich imagination as well as his profound understanding and respect for Native American culture.

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All Thinking People Happens Native Remember Understanding Best Teacher Bits Certainty Different

Famous Joseph Bruchac Quotes

“The best teachers have showed me that things have to be done bit by bit. Nothing that means anything happens quickly--we only think it does. The motion of drawing back a bow and sending an arrow straight into a target takes only a split second, but it is a skill many years in the making. So it is with a life, anyone's life. I may list things that might be described as my accomplishments in these few pages, but they are only shadows of the larger truth, fragments separated from the whole cycle of becoming. And if I can tell an old-time story now about a man who is walking about, waudjoset ndatlokugan, a forest lodge man, alesakamigwi udlagwedewugan, it is because I spent many years walking about myself, listening to voices that came not just from the people but from animals and trees and stones.”

Wisdom Time Path Journey Patience Story Wandering Personal Mythmaking

Author:Joseph Bruchac

“There are many people who could claim and learn from their Indian ancestry, but because of the fear their parents and grandparents knew, because of past and present prejudice against Indian people, that part of their heritage is clouded or denied.”

People Past Parent Claims Prejudice Indian Heritage Denied Grandparent Ancestry Past And Present Parents And Grandparents Clouded

Author:Joseph Bruchac

“One of the things I've been taught by Native American elders is the importance of patience, of waiting to do things when the time is right. As an Onondaga friend put it to me, "you can't pick berries until the berries are ripe."”

Waiting Importance Native Native American

Author:Joseph Bruchac

“Knowledge is easy to come by. Understanding what you know takes much longer.”

Easy Understanding

Author:Joseph Bruchac

“A journal is a very personal thing. As far as possible, to write this sort of book you need to know and feel your character as a person and then put yourself into that person's mind, place and time. Trying to stay in that person, place and time is a challenge when surrounded by this very different world of the 21st century.”

World Writing Trying Mind Book Different Character Challenges 21st Century

Author:Joseph Bruchac

“Native people such as the Cherokees are just as human and complex and real as Americans are, and our nation needs to respect American Indian cultures and traditions.”

People Real Culture Tradition Native American Indian Cherokee

Author:Joseph Bruchac

“Strong words outlast the paper they are written upon.”

Strong Written Paper Strong Words

Book:Code Talker: A Novel About the Navajo Marines of World War Two

Source: Code Talker: A Novel About the Navajo Marines of World War Two

“If it wasn't for good," my mother says, "we human beings would have been wiped out a long time ago. Either the monsters would have gotten us or we would have killed each other off with greed and jealousy and anger. So we have to believe in good. We have to look for the good in ourselves.”

Ifs Believe Humans Looks Long Has Beens Mother Human Beings Long Time Greed Monsters Long Time Ago

Author:Joseph Bruchac

“A story is a burden which must be carried with as much care as we carry a sleeping child”

Children Stories Care Sleep Burden Sleeping Child

Book:Roots of Survival: Native American Storytelling and the Sacred

Source: Roots of Survival: Native American Storytelling and the Sacred

“Kill every enemy twice, Wilky said. Better than gettin' shot by a soldier pretending to be dead.”

Said Enemy Shots Soldier Pretending

Book:Code Talker: A Novel About the Navajo Marines of World War Two

Source: Code Talker: A Novel About the Navajo Marines of World War Two

“Never think that war is a good thing, grandchildren. Though it may be necessary at times to defend our people, war is a sickness that must be cured. War is a time out of balance. When it is truly over, we must work to restore peace and sacred harmony once again.”

People Thinking May War Balance Harmony Sacred Good Things Sickness Grandchildren

Book:Code Talker: A Novel About the Navajo Marines of World War Two

Source: Code Talker: A Novel About the Navajo Marines of World War Two

“We need to walk to know sacred places, those around us and those within. We need to walk to remember the songs.”

Knows Needs Remember Song Nature Walks Sacred Sacred Places

Book:No borders: new poems

Source: No borders: new poems

“Another of the hard things about being in a war, grandchildren, is that although there are times of quiet when the fighting has stopped, you know you will soon be fighting again. Those quiet times give you the chance to think about what has happened. Some of it you would rather not think about, as you remember the pain and the sorrow. You also have time to worry about what will happen when you go into battle again.”

Source: Code Talker: A Novel About the Navajo Marines of World War Two

“The best teachers have shown me that things have to be done bit by bit. Nothing that means anything happens quickly - we only think it does.”

Thinking Mean Doe Done Happens Bits Teacher Things Happen Best Teacher

Author:Joseph Bruchac

“Guilt can make you doubt yourself at the very moment when you need to proceed with certainty.”

Needs Moments Doubt Guilt Certainty

Author:Joseph Bruchac

“As long as we can remember them, our families will always be with us.”

Long Remember Our Family

Author:Joseph Bruchac

“It is important to understand that there are many different ways of seeing the world and expressing the wisdom of Native belief...No one voice speaks for all voices.”

World Way Important Different Wisdom Belief Speak Understanding Voice Seeing Expression Perception Different Ways Native Native American Seeing The World

Author:Joseph Bruchac

“Do we make ourselves into what we become or is it built into our genes, into the fate spun for us by whatever shapes events?”

Fate Events Shapes Built Genes Spun

Author:Joseph Bruchac

“The best teachers have showed me that things have to be done bit by bit. Nothing that means anything happens quickly--we only think it does. The motion of drawing back a bow and sending an arrow straight into a target takes only a split second, but it is a skill many years in the making. So it is with a life, anyone's life.”

Thinking Years Mean Doe Done Happens Bits Teacher Skills Drawing Things Happen Target Bows Splits Arrows Best Teacher

Author:Joseph Bruchac

“When the Lakota leader Sitting Bull was asked by a white reporter why his people loved and respected him, Sitting Bull replied by asking if it was not true that among white people a man is respected because he has many horses, many houses? When the reporter replied that was indeed true, Sitting Bull then said that his people respected him because he kept nothing for himself.”

People Ifs Men Said House White Leader Sitting Horse Asking Reporters Bulls Lakota

Author:Joseph Bruchac

“There is a kind of certainty that seems to characterize Jared Smith's best work, an understanding about place and the flow of spirit that makes you think of Thoreau along with a commitment as fierce as that of Pablo Neruda.”

Thinking Kind Seems Spirit Understanding Commitment Flow Certainty Fierce Best Work Make You Think

Author:Joseph Bruchac

About the Author

Born: October 16, 1942
Known for: Writer
Quotes: 21

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Thinking People Happens Native Remember Understanding Best Teacher Bits Certainty Different

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People Ifs Thinking Knows Men World Way Want Love Life Inspirational Needs Giving Feels Should Writing Trying Years Mind Firsts

Books & Sources

Code Talker: A Novel About the Navajo Marines of World War TwoRelated source material

No borders: new poemsRelated source material

Roots of Survival: Native American Storytelling and the SacredRelated source material

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