Any man who is attached to things of this world is one who lives in ignorance and is being consumed by the snakes of his own passions
BLACK ELKCrazy 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….
More Black Elk Quotes
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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.
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I was four years old then, and I think it must have been the next summer that I first heard the voices.
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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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It is hard to follow one great vision in this world of darkness and of many changing shadows. Among those men get lost.
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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.
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I think I have told you, but if I have not, you must have understood, that a man who has a vision is not able to use the power of it until after he has performed the vision on earth for the people to see.
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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 had a vision with which I might have saved my people, but I had not the strength to do it.
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Behold this day. It is yours to make.
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But if the Vision was true and mighty, as I know, it is true and mighty yet;for such things are of Spirit, and it is in the darkness of their eyes that men get lost.
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And I saw that the sacred hoop of my people as one of many hoops that made one circle.
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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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The life of a person is a circle from childhood to childhood, and so it is in everything where power moves.
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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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Grandfather, Great Spirit, once more behold me on earth and lean to hear my feeble voice.
BLACK ELK