Quotes by Sioux Authors | Beyond Motive

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Quotes by Sioux Authors

"In every religion there is an element of the supernatural, varying with the influence of pure reason over its devotees."

"In every religion there is an element of the supernatural, varying with the influence of pure reason over its devotees."

Charles Eastman, Sioux Author

Religion, Influence, Reason, Supernatural

61

"The religion of the Indian is the last thing about him that the man of another race will ever understand."

"The religion of the Indian is the last thing about him that the man of another race will ever understand."

Charles Eastman, Sioux Author

Religion, Man, Race, Will

40

"It has been said that the position of woman is the test of civilization, and that of our women was secure. In them was vested our standard of morals and the purity of our blood."

"It has been said that the position of woman is the test of civilization, and that of our women was secure. In them was vested our standard of morals and the purity of our blood."

Charles Eastman, Sioux Author

Woman, Women, Civilization, Blood, Morals

34

"More than this, even in those white men who professed religion we found much inconsistency of conduct. They spoke much of spiritual things, while seeking only the material."

"More than this, even in those white men who professed religion we found much inconsistency of conduct. They spoke much of spiritual things, while seeking only the material."

Charles Eastman, Sioux Author

Man, Men, Religion, Inconsistency, Spiritual

34

"I am poor and naked, but I am the chief of the nation. We do not want riches but we do want to train our children right. Riches would do us no good. We could not take them with us to the other world. We do not want riches. We want peace and love."

"I am poor and naked, but I am the chief of the nation. We do not want riches but we do want to train our children right. Riches would do us no good. We could not take them with us to the other world. We do not want riches. We want peace and love."

Red Cloud, Sioux Statesman

Love, Peace, Children, Nation

32

"He sees no need for setting apart one day in seven as a holy day, since to him all days are God's."

"He sees no need for setting apart one day in seven as a holy day, since to him all days are God's."

Charles Eastman, Sioux Author

31

"The clan is nothing more than a larger family, with its patriarchal chief as the natural head, and the union of several clans by intermarriage and voluntary connection constitutes the tribe."

"The clan is nothing more than a larger family, with its patriarchal chief as the natural head, and the union of several clans by intermarriage and voluntary connection constitutes the tribe."

Charles Eastman, Sioux Author

Family, Connection, Nothing

31

"The native American has been generally despised by his white conquerors for his poverty and simplicity."

"The native American has been generally despised by his white conquerors for his poverty and simplicity."

Charles Eastman, Sioux Author

Despised, American, Poverty, Simplicity

30

"The elements and majestic forces in nature, Lightning, Wind, Water, Fire, and Frost, were regarded with awe as spiritual powers, but always secondary and intermediate in character."

"The elements and majestic forces in nature, Lightning, Wind, Water, Fire, and Frost, were regarded with awe as spiritual powers, but always secondary and intermediate in character."

Charles Eastman, Sioux Author

Nature, Character, Fire, Spiritual

29

"There was no religious ceremony connected with marriage among us, while on the other hand the relation between man and woman was regarded as in itself mysterious and holy."

"There was no religious ceremony connected with marriage among us, while on the other hand the relation between man and woman was regarded as in itself mysterious and holy."

Charles Eastman, Sioux Author

Marriage, Ceremony, Man, Religious

29

"That is, we believed, the supreme duty of the parent, who only was permitted to claim in some degree the priestly office and function, since it is his creative and protecting power which alone approaches the solemn function of Deity."

"That is, we believed, the supreme duty of the parent, who only was permitted to claim in some degree the priestly office and function, since it is his creative and protecting power which alone approaches the solemn function of Deity."

Charles Eastman, Sioux Author

Power, Duty, Office

28

"But to have a friend, and to be true under any and all trials, is the mark of a man!"

"But to have a friend, and to be true under any and all trials, is the mark of a man!"

Charles Eastman, Sioux Author

Friendship, Friend, Trials

27

"At the age of about eight years, if he is a boy, she turns him over to his father for more Spartan training."

"At the age of about eight years, if he is a boy, she turns him over to his father for more Spartan training."

Charles Eastman, Sioux Author

Age, Father, Training, Years

27

"The family was not only the social unit, but also the unit of government."

"The family was not only the social unit, but also the unit of government."

Charles Eastman, Sioux Author

Family, Government

26

"Our people, though capable of strong and durable feeling, were not demonstrative in their affection at any time, least of all in the presence of guests or strangers."

"Our people, though capable of strong and durable feeling, were not demonstrative in their affection at any time, least of all in the presence of guests or strangers."

Charles Eastman, Sioux Author

Time, People, Affection, Feeling

26

"No one who is at all acquainted with the Indian in his home can deny that we are a polite people."

"No one who is at all acquainted with the Indian in his home can deny that we are a polite people."

Charles Eastman, Sioux Author

25

"The logical man must either deny all miracles or none, and our American Indian myths and hero stories are perhaps, in themselves, quite as credible as those of the Hebrews of old."

"The logical man must either deny all miracles or none, and our American Indian myths and hero stories are perhaps, in themselves, quite as credible as those of the Hebrews of old."

Charles Eastman, Sioux Author

Miracles, American, Man, Myths

24

"The hospitality of the wigwam is only limited by the institution of war."

"The hospitality of the wigwam is only limited by the institution of war."

Charles Eastman, Sioux Author

War, Hospitality

24

"Indian names were either characteristic nicknames given in a playful spirit, deed names, birth names, or such as have a religious and symbolic meaning."

"Indian names were either characteristic nicknames given in a playful spirit, deed names, birth names, or such as have a religious and symbolic meaning."

Charles Eastman, Sioux Author

Name, Deed, Meaning, Names, Religious

22

"Western civilization, unfortunately, does not link knowledge and morality but rather, it connects knowledge and power and makes them equivalent."

"Western civilization, unfortunately, does not link knowledge and morality but rather, it connects knowledge and power and makes them equivalent."

Vine Deloria, Jr., Sioux Author

Power, Morality, Civilization, Knowledge

22

"Our old age was in some respects the happiest period of life."

"Our old age was in some respects the happiest period of life."

Charles Eastman, Sioux Author

22

"The red man divided mind into two parts, - the spiritual mind and the physical mind."

"The red man divided mind into two parts, - the spiritual mind and the physical mind."

Charles Eastman, Sioux Author

Man, Mind, Spiritual

21

"The American Indian was an individualist in religion as in war. He had neither a national army nor an organized church."

"The American Indian was an individualist in religion as in war. He had neither a national army nor an organized church."

Charles Eastman, Sioux Author

Religion, War, Church, American

21

"There were no temples or shrines among us save those of nature."

"There were no temples or shrines among us save those of nature."

Charles Eastman, Sioux Author

19

"We do not want riches, we want peace and love."

"We do not want riches, we want peace and love."

Red Cloud, Sioux Statesman

Love, Peace, Want

18

"When asked by an anthropologist what the Indians called America before the white man came, an Indian said simply, "Ours.""

"When asked by an anthropologist what the Indians called America before the white man came, an Indian said simply, "Ours.""

Vine Deloria, Jr., Sioux Author

Nation, America, Man

17

"Friendship is held to be the severest test of character."

"Friendship is held to be the severest test of character."

Charles Eastman, Sioux Author

Friendship, Character

16

"Among us all men were created sons of God and stood erect, as conscious of their divinity."

"Among us all men were created sons of God and stood erect, as conscious of their divinity."

Charles Eastman, Sioux Author

Man, Men, God, Divinity, Sons

16

"The Indian was a religious man from his mother's womb."

"The Indian was a religious man from his mother's womb."

Charles Eastman, Sioux Author

Family, Mother, Man, Religious

15

"Every act of his life is, in a very real sense, a religious act."

"Every act of his life is, in a very real sense, a religious act."

Charles Eastman, Sioux Author

Life, Act, Religious, Sense

15

"They made us many promises, more than I can remember, but they never kept but one; they promised to take our land, and they took it."

"They made us many promises, more than I can remember, but they never kept but one; they promised to take our land, and they took it."

Red Cloud, Sioux Statesman

15

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