Black Elk on circles
Black Elk48 quotes“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.”
More from Black Elk
Behold this day. It is yours to make.
Black ElkBlack Elk 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….
Black ElkBlack Elk 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.
Black ElkBlack Elk It is in the darkness of their eyes that men lose their way.
Black ElkBlack Elk 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.
Black ElkBlack Elk And when I breathed, my breath was lightning.
Black ElkBlack Elk A good nation I will make live.This the nation above has said.They have given me the power to make over.
Black ElkBlack Elk Grown men may learn from very little children, for the hearts of little children are pure, and, therefore, the Great Spirit may show to them many things which older people miss.
Black ElkBlack Elk So I took the bright red stick and at the center of the nation’s hoop I thrust it in the earth.
Black ElkBlack Elk We should understand well that all things are the work of the Great Spirit. We should know the Great Spirit is within all things: the trees, the grasses, the rivers, the mountains, and the four-legged and winged peoples; and even more important.
Black ElkBlack Elk The Holy Land is everywhere.
Black ElkBlack Elk We should understand that the Great Spirit is also above all these things and peoples.
Black ElkBlack Elk Everything tries to be round.
Black ElkBlack Elk Everywhere is the center of the world. Everything is sacred.
Black ElkBlack Elk It is good to have a reminder of death before us, for it helps us to understand the impermanence of life on this earth, and this understanding may aid us in preparing for our own death.
Black ElkBlack Elk Let every step you take upon the earth be as a prayer.
Black ElkBlack Elk
Original quotes
From our community writers
We were dirt poor but we had each other. We didn’t need much to have a lot.
Brad NeatonBrad Neaton Always show kindness and love to others. Your words might be filling the empty places in someone else heart.
Alexander KandovAlexander Kandov One quick sip of your memory I let it slip, and I go on without you.
Emma SchippersEmma Schippers If the scars on my heart were visible to the naked eye, maybe you’d think twice about inflicting more.
Laura Natoli-KearneyLaura Natoli-Kearney I am getting better at forgetting you. I am slowly but steadily learning the art of forgetting you.
Juana GarciaJuana Garcia Paper and pen petrify me, for they pierce right through me, drawing deep blue blood, leaving me utterly cold.
Shreya JoshiShreya Joshi Spend time with people who get excited over even the smallest victories you earn.
Sonia SabnisSonia Sabnis I wonder if you were the poison or the antidote.
Ginnie BaleGinnie Bale
Meet the writers
More on circles
You guys pair up in groups of three, then line up in a circle.
Bill PetersonBill Peterson I saw more than I can tell / And I understood more than I saw.
Black ElkBlack Elk I’ve been lucky with the circle of people I’m playing with. We’ve played enough that there’s a language we talk with each other when we play.
Bill FrisellBill Frisell Everything is roughness, except for the circles. How many circles are there in nature? Very, very few. The straight lines. Very shapes are very, very smooth. But geometry had laid them aside because they were too complicated.
Benoit MandelbrotBenoit Mandelbrot Of course it would cost something, but he was an expert in cutting corners; and when there were no more corners left he would make circles rounder.
Bernard MalamudBernard Malamud It’s a great life, and Margaret and I are going to stay put above the Arctic Circle where we’re happy.
Bern Will BrownBern Will Brown I’m conscious of a series of circles working its way through my life. And at this particular moment I have come round to the beginning of my writing cycle. It begins with poetry. There’s hardly a day that goes past on which I don’t write poetry.
Ben OkriBen Okri It’s true that the Federal Reserve faces a lot of political pressure and is unpopular in many circles.
Ben BernankeBen Bernanke
