Luther Standing Bear Quotes

The old Lakota was wise. He knew that 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.

It is the mothers not the warriors who create a people and guide their destiny.

White men seem to have difficulty in realizing that people who live differently from themselves still might be traveling the upward and progressive road of life.

Knowledge was inherent in all things. The world was a library.

After all the great religions have been preached and expounded, man is still confronted with the Great Mystery.

Silence is the Mother of Truth, for the silent man was ever to be trusted, while the man ever ready with speech was never taken seriously.

The old Lakota was wise. He knew that a man's heart away from nature becomes hard.

The old people came literally to love the soil and they sat or reclined on the ground with a feeling of being close to a mothering power. The soil was soothing, strengthening, cleansing and healing.

Only to the white man was nature a 'wilderness'.

For the Lakota there was no wilderness. Nature was not dangerous but hospitable, not forbidding but friendly.

Certain small ways and observances sometimes have connection with large and more profound ideas.

Generosity is a mark of bravery, so all Sioux boys were taught to be generous.