10 Quotes From a Sioux Indian Chief That Will Make You Question Everything About Our Society

SHARE:

10 Quotes From a Sioux Indian Chief That Will Make You Question Everything About Our Society

Luther Standing Bear was an Oglala Lakota Sioux Chief who, among a few rare others such as Charles Eastman, Black Elk and Gertrude Bonnin occupied the rift between the way of life of the Indigenous people of the Great Plains before, and during, the arrival and subsequent spread of the European pioneers. Raised in the traditions of his people until the age of eleven, he was then educated at the Carlisle Indian Industrial Boarding School of Pennsylvania, where he learned the english language and way of life. (Though a National Historical Landmark, Carlisle remains a place of controversy in Native circles.)


Like his above-mentioned contemporaries, however, his native roots were deep, leaving him in the unique position of being a conduit between cultures. Though his movement through the white man’s world was not without “success” — he had numerous movie roles in Hollywood — his enduring legacy was the protection of the way of life of his people.


By the time of his death he had published 4 books and had become a leader at the forefront of the progressive movement aimed at preserving Native American heritage and sovereignty, coming to be known as a strong voice in the education of the white man as to the Native American way of life. Here, then, are 10 quotes from the great Sioux Indian Chief known as Standing Bear that will be sure to disturb much of what you think you know about “modern” culture.


1) Praise, flattery, exaggerated manners and fine, high-sounding words were no part of Lakota politeness. Excessive manners were put down as insincere, and the constant talker was considered rude and thoughtless. Conversation was never begun at once, or in a hurried manner.

2) Children were taught that true politeness was to be defined in actions rather than in words. They were never allowed to pass between the fire and the older person or a visitor, to speak while others were speaking, or to make fun of a crippled or disfigured person. If a child thoughtlessly tried to do so, a parent, in a quiet voice, immediately set him right.


10 Quotes From a Sioux Indian Chief That Will Make You Question Everything About Our Society

3) Silence was meaningful with the Lakota, and his granting a space of silence before talking was done in the practice of true politeness and regardful of the rule that ‘thought comes before speech.’…and in the midst of sorrow, sickness, death or misfortune of any kind, and in the presence of the notable and great, silence was the mark of respect… strict observance of this tenet of good behavior was the reason, no doubt, for his being given the false characterization by the white man of being a stoic. He has been judged to be dumb, stupid, indifferent, and unfeeling.

4) We did not think of the great open plains, the beautiful rolling hills, the winding streams with tangled growth, as ‘wild’. Only to the white man was nature a ‘wilderness’ and only to him was it ‘infested’ with ‘wild’ animals and ‘savage’ people. To us it was tame. Earth was bountiful and we were surrounded with the blessings of the Great Mystery.


10 Quotes From a Sioux Indian Chief That Will Make You Question Everything About Our Society

5) With all creatures of the earth, sky and water was a real and active principle. In the animal and bird world there existed a brotherly feeling that kept the Lakota safe among them. And so close did some of the Lakotas come to their feathered and furred friends that in true brotherhood they spoke a common tongue.

6) This concept of life and its relations was humanizing and gave to the Lakota an abiding love. It filled his being with the joy and mystery of living; it gave him reverence for all life; it made a place for all things in the scheme of existence with equal importance to all.

7) It was good for the skin to touch the earth, and the old people liked to remove their moccasins and walk with bare feet on the sacred earth… the old Indian still sits upon the earth instead of propping himself up and away from its life-giving forces. For him, to sit or lie upon the ground is to be able to think more deeply and to feel more keenly. He can see more clearly into the mysteries of life and come closer in kinship to other lives about him.


10 Quotes From a Sioux Indian Chief That Will Make You Question Everything About Our Society

8) Everything was possessed of personality, only differing from us in form. Knowledge was inherent in all things. The world was a library and its books were the stones, leaves, grass, brooks, and the birds and animals that shared, alike with us, the storms and blessings of earth. We learned to do what only the student of nature learns, and that was to feel beauty. We never railed at the storms, the furious winds, and the biting frosts and snows. To do so intensified human futility, so whatever came we adjusted ourselves, by more effort and energy if necessary, but without complaint.

9) …the old Lakota was wise. He knew that a man’s heart, away from nature, becomes hard; he knew that lack of respect for growing, living things soon led to lack of respect for humans, too. So he kept his children close to nature’s softening influence.

10) Civilization has been thrust upon me… and it has not added one whit to my love for truth, honesty, and generosity.


I hope some of these quotes have moved you and influenced you the way they have for me. It seems as though our modern culture could use a little guidance from ancient wisdom.


Source: Wisdom Pills


Photo credit: Kirby Sattler




Related:

COMMENTS

BLOGGER: 210
  1. By using this VPN you can enjoy Davis vs Santa Cruz Live Stream. CyberGhost works including 1400 servers from 60 countries around the world. Here you can get a 3-year plan. You have to cast $ 2.75 / month. When you sign up with this VPN you can find the streaming site. Now enjoy your favorite Davis vs Santa Cruz Fight Live.

    Facebook Page

    Twitter

    ReplyDelete
  2. 井上vsモロニーファイトライブストリーム. さまざまなスポーツ、テレビイベント、映画などの放送に成功しています。DirectTVには独自の公式ウェブサイトがあります。井上直哉ファイトライブオンライン無料。しかし、7日間の無料トライアルの後、月額$ 50と$ 70のバンドルがあります。あなたは誰でも選ぶことによって直接テレビを楽しむことができます。今年は、TV井上直哉が直接TVで生放送。ディレクTV井上直哉ファイトライブを視聴する準備ができたら、ディレクTVの公式ウェブサイトにサインアップできます。直接TVアカウントをお持ちの場合は、ログインしてください。次に、目的のバンドルを選択します。その後、井上直哉ファイトライブ直接放送を直接テレビで見ることができます。

    ReplyDelete

  3. Кубрат Пулев битка е предстоящо битка събитие. Той ще се излъчи през декември. Трябва да се приготвите да се насладите на Кубрат Пулев Трансляция. Цялата информация за Кубрат Пулев битка ще споделим с вас. Трябва да следвате инструкциите. Да разберем всичко за Кубрат Пулев битка.

    ReplyDelete
  4. The arrival of undefeated junior middleweight competitor Tim Tszyu is being focused for dates in December, in Sydney. A month ago, Tszyu got the greatest win of his master vocation when he wrecked previous WBO welterweight champion Jeff Horn in Townsville. Tszyu, presently positioned at two by the World Boxing Organization at 154-pounds, was planning to battle WBO junior middleweight title holder Patrick Teixeira of Brazil. In any case, the WBO won't permit Teixeira to move back from his required commitment to Brian Castano. Stream Tim Tszyu Fight Live

    ReplyDelete
  5. I always visit this site name Indichalisa to read Hanuman Chalisa. Also suggest you to read it.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Really good post on the topic, you can also see karmasangsthan

    ReplyDelete

«Oldest   ‹Older   201 – 210 of 210
Name

Activism,1307,Art,791,BLM,22,Consciousness,1545,CoVid-19,154,Cures,227,Do it Yourself,112,Documentaries,72,Environment,1478,Fiction,2,Health,765,History,464,Human Intelligence,554,Inspirations,2,Inspiring Stories,4179,Justice,536,Mental Health,16,News,1411,Nutrition,218,Philosophy,309,Photography,1590,Quantum Physics,29,Quizzes & Tests,145,Quotes,113,Relationships,781,Science,1145,Self Improvement,838,Spirituality,248,Sustainability,246,Technology,477,Truth,755,
ltr
item
Thinking Humanity: 10 Quotes From a Sioux Indian Chief That Will Make You Question Everything About Our Society
10 Quotes From a Sioux Indian Chief That Will Make You Question Everything About Our Society
Luther Standing Bear was an Oglala Lakota Sioux Chief who, among a few rare others such as Charles Eastman, Black Elk and Gertrude Bonnin occupied the rift between the way of life of the Indigenous people of the Great Plains before, and during, the arrival and subsequent spread of the European pioneers.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbd0yyxNhLhtkueCgJYTCDTlD-5xJalVxVd01bAh3Adf_GLtfyk7uNaFNaofsPeSvkYdbBHYc-0gLVakd61KIcYVGQjhlnmn_hMPTRuWbULnxKipdcZDE-zin2nxnH_5bi4hjgJksrQuvA/s1600/10+Quotes+From+a+Sioux+Indian+Chief+That+Will+Make+You+Question+Everything+About+Our+Society.jpg
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbd0yyxNhLhtkueCgJYTCDTlD-5xJalVxVd01bAh3Adf_GLtfyk7uNaFNaofsPeSvkYdbBHYc-0gLVakd61KIcYVGQjhlnmn_hMPTRuWbULnxKipdcZDE-zin2nxnH_5bi4hjgJksrQuvA/s72-c/10+Quotes+From+a+Sioux+Indian+Chief+That+Will+Make+You+Question+Everything+About+Our+Society.jpg
Thinking Humanity
https://www.thinkinghumanity.com/2015/02/10-quotes-from-a-sioux-indian-chief-that-wil-make-you-question-everything-about-our-society.html
https://www.thinkinghumanity.com/
https://www.thinkinghumanity.com/
https://www.thinkinghumanity.com/2015/02/10-quotes-from-a-sioux-indian-chief-that-wil-make-you-question-everything-about-our-society.html
true
7064777598104498166
UTF-8
Loaded All Posts Not found any posts VIEW ALL Readmore Reply Cancel reply Delete By Home PAGES POSTS View All RECOMMENDED FOR YOU LABEL ARCHIVE SEARCH ALL POSTS Not found any post match with your request Back Home Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat January February March April May June July August September October November December Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec just now 1 minute ago $$1$$ minutes ago 1 hour ago $$1$$ hours ago Yesterday $$1$$ days ago $$1$$ weeks ago more than 5 weeks ago Followers Follow THIS PREMIUM CONTENT IS LOCKED STEP 1: Share to a social network STEP 2: Click the link on your social network Copy All Code Select All Code All codes were copied to your clipboard Can not copy the codes / texts, please press [CTRL]+[C] (or CMD+C with Mac) to copy