Black Elk quotes

Black Elk was a famous Oglala Lakota holy man and visionary. His life and experiences became widely known through the book "Black Elk Speaks," which shares his perspectives on Native American culture and spirituality. He played a significant role as a spiritual leader and participated in important events such as the Battle of Little Bighorn and the Wounded Knee Massacre. Here are 64 of his quotes:

Sometimes dreams are wiser than waking.

Black Elk

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.

Black Elk

There can never be peace between nations until there is first known that true peace which is within the souls of men.

Black Elk

And when I breathed, my breath was lightning.

Black Elk

Perhaps you have noticed that even in the very lightest breeze you can hear the voice of the cottonwood tree; this we understand is its prayer to the Great Spirit, for not only men, but all things and all beings pray to Him continually in differing ways.

Black Elk

The Great Spirit is everywhere; He hears whatever is in our minds and our hearts, and it is not necessary to speak to Him in a loud voice.

Black Elk

And as he spoke of understanding, I looked up and saw the rainbow leap with flames of many colors over me.

Black Elk

Grandfather, Great Spirit, once more behold me on earth and lean to hear my feeble voice.

Black Elk

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

And I say the sacred hoop of my people was one of the many hoops that made one circle, wide as daylight and as starlight, and in the center grew one mighty flowering tree to shelter all the children of one mother and one father.

Black Elk

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

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

I was four years old then, and I think it must have been the next summer that I first heard the voices.

Black Elk

The soldiers did go away and their towns were torn down; and in the Moon of Falling Leaves (November), they made a treaty with Red Cloud that said our country would be ours as long as grass should grow and water flow.

Black Elk

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

They told me I had been sick twelve days, lying like dead all the while, and that Whirlwind Chaser, who was Standing Bear's uncle and a medicine man, had brought me back to life.

Black Elk

My friend, I am going to tell you the story of my life, as you wish; and if it were only the story of my life I think I would not tell it; for what is one man that he should make much of his winters, even when they bend him like a heavy snow?

Black Elk

I looked below and saw my people there, and all were well and happy except one, and he was lying like the dead - and that one was myself.

Black Elk

When I got back to my father and mother and was sitting up there in our tepee, my face was still all puffed and my legs and arms were badly swollen; but I felt good all over and wanted to get right up and run around.

Black Elk

You see, I had been riding with the storm clouds, and had come to earth as rain, and it was drought that I had killed with the power that the Six Grandfathers gave me.

Black Elk

After the horse dance was over, it seemed that I was above the ground and did not touch it when I walked.

Black Elk

I cured with the power that came through me.

Black Elk