Even the seasons form a great circle in their changing, and always come back again to where they were.
BLACK ELKIt is hard to follow one great vision in this world of darkness and of many changing shadows. Among those men get lost.
More Black Elk Quotes
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The power of a thing or an act is in the meaning and the understanding.
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Everywhere is the center of the world. Everything is sacred.
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He who is well prepared is he who knows that he is nothing compared with Wakan-Tanka, who is everything; then he knows that world which is real.
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It’s in the darkness of men’s eyes that they get lost.
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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.
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I might have been less good to the people than some man who had never dreamed at all, even with the memory of so great a vision in me.
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It is not enough to have a vision. In order to have its power, you must enact your vision on earth for all to see. Only then do you have the power.
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I saw more than I can tell / And I understood more than I saw.
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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.
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Once we were happy in our own country and we were seldom hungry, for then the two-leggeds and the four-leggeds lived together like relatives, and there was plenty for them and for us.
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So I took the bright red stick and at the center of the nation’s hoop I thrust it in the earth.
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And as he spoke of understanding, I looked up and saw the rainbow leap with flames of many colors over me.
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But I think I have done right to save the vision in this way, even though I may die sooner because I did it; for I know the meaning of the vision is wise and beautiful and good; and you can see that I am only a pitiful old man after all.
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Everything tries to be round.
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It is hard to follow one great vision in this world of darkness and of many changing shadows. Among those men get lost.
BLACK ELK