Black Elk Quotes About Vision

Quotes about: Vision

• Also, as I lay there thinking of my vision, I could see it all again and feel the meaning with a part of me like a strange power glowing in my body; but when the part of me that talks would try to make words for the meaning, it would be like fog and get away from me.

  Black Elk

  Thinking, Fog, Glowing

  Black Elk (2000). “Black Elk Speaks: Being the Life Story of a Holy Man of the Oglala Sioux”, Bison Books

• 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.... It was this vision that gave him his great power, for when he went into a fight, he had only to think of that world to be in it again, so that he could go through anything and not be hurt

  Black Elk

  Hurt, Horse, Crazy

  Black Elk (2000). “Black Elk Speaks: Being the Life Story of a Holy Man of the Oglala Sioux”, Bison Books

• To use the power of the bison, I had to perform that part of my vision for the people to see.

  Black Elk

  People, Vision, Use

• 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 Elk

  Beautiful, Wise, Thinking

  Black Elk, John G. Neihardt (2014). “Black Elk Speaks: The Complete Edition”, p.128, U of Nebraska Press

• 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

  Men, Darkness, Vision

  Black Elk (2000). “Black Elk Speaks: Being the Life Story of a Holy Man of the Oglala Sioux”, Bison Books

• 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.

  Black Elk

  Men, Thinking, People

  Black Elk (2000). “Black Elk Speaks: Being the Life Story of a Holy Man of the Oglala Sioux”, Bison Books

• 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; the visions and ceremonies only made me like a whole through which the power could come to the two-leggeds. 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.

  Black Elk

  Two, Vision, Would Be

• When a vision comes from the thunder beings of the west, it comes with terror like a thunder storm; but when the storm of vision has passed, the world is greenier and happier; for wherever the truth of vision comes upon the world, it is like a rain. The world, you see, is happier after the terror of the storm.

  Black Elk

  Rain, Vision, Storm

  "Black Elk Speaks : being the life story of a holy man of the Ogalala Sioux" by John Neihardt, 1961.

• 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.

  Black Elk

  Order, Vision, Earth

• 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 Elk

  Summer, Horse, Years

  Black Elk (2000). “Black Elk Speaks: Being the Life Story of a Holy Man of the Oglala Sioux”, Bison Books

• 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.

  Black Elk

  Native American, Eye, Men

  Black Elk (2000). “Black Elk Speaks: Being the Life Story of a Holy Man of the Oglala Sioux”, Bison Books

• I had a vision with which I might have saved my people, but I had not the strength to do it.

  Black Elk

  People, Vision, Might

• And if the great fear had not come upon me, as it did, and forced me to do my duty, 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.

  Black Elk

  Memories, Men, People

  Black Elk (2000). “Black Elk Speaks: Being the Life Story of a Holy Man of the Oglala Sioux”, Bison Books

• facebook
• twitter
• googleplus
• email
• linkedin

• facebook
• twitter
• googleplus
• email
• linkedin