Charles Alexander Eastman Quotes

Quotes about:

• Children must early learn the the beauty of generosity. They are taught to give what they prize most, that they may taste the happiness of giving.

  Charles Alexander Eastman

  Life, Children, Native American

  64 Copy quote

• The Wise Man believes profoundly in silence - the sign of a perfect equilibrium. Silence is the absolute poise or balance of body, mind and spirit. The man who preserves his selfhood ever calm and unshaken by the storms of existence - not a leaf, as it were, astire on the tree, not a ripple upon the surface of the shinning pool-his, in the mind of the unlettered sage, is the ideal attitude and conduct of life. Silence is the cornerstone of character.

  Charles Alexander Eastman

  Wise, Attitude, Believe

  62 Copy quote

• The native American has been generally despised by his white conquerors for his poverty and simplicity. They forget, perhaps, that his religion forbade the accumulation of wealth and the enjoyment of luxury... Furthermore, it was the rule of his life to share the fruits of his skill and success with his less fortunate brothers. Thus he kept his spirit free from the clog of pride, cupidity, or envy, and carried out, as he believed, the divine decree-a matter profoundly important to him.

  Charles Alexander Eastman

  Success, Brother, Native American

  38 Copy quote

• Nearness to nature... keeps the spirit sensitive to impressions not commonly felt and in touch with the unseen powers.

  Charles Alexander Eastman

  Nature, Unseen, Spirit

  Charles Alexander Eastman (1980). “The Soul of the Indian: An Interpretation”, p.163, U of Nebraska Press

  35 Copy quote

• If you ask him: "What is silence?" he will answer, "It is the Great Mystery! The holy silence is His voice!" If you ask: "What are the fruits of silence?" he will say: "They are self-control, true courage or endurance, patience, dignity, and reverence. Silence is the cornerstone of character."

  Charles Alexander Eastman

  Courage, Character, Self

  Charles Alexander Eastman, Michael Oren Fitzgerald (2007). “The Essential Charles Eastman (Ohiyesa): Light on the Indian World”, p.23, World Wisdom, Inc

  30 Copy quote

• It was our belief that the love of possessions is a weakness to be overcome. . . . Children must early learn the beauty of generosity. They are taught to give what they prize most, that they may taste the happiness of giving. . . . The Indians in their simplicity literally give away all that they have—to relatives, to guests of other tribes or clans, but above all to the poor and the aged, from whom they can hope for no return.

  Charles Alexander Eastman

  Children, Native American, Generosity

  33 Copy quote

• The true Indian sets no price upon either his property or his labor. His generosity is limited only by his strength and ability. He regards it as an honor to be selected for difficult or dangerous service and would think it shameful to ask for any reward, saying rather: "Let the person I serve express his thanks according to his own bringing up and his sense of honor. Each soul must meet the morning sun, the new sweet earth, and the Great Silence alone!. What is Silence? It is the Great Mystery! The Holy Silence is His voice!

  Charles Alexander Eastman

  Sweet, Morning, Thinking

  36 Copy quote

• Is there not something worthy of perpetuation in our Indian spirit of democracy, where Earth, our mother, was free to all, and no one sought to impoverish or enslave his neighbor?

  Charles Alexander Eastman

  Mother, Justice, Diversity

  30 Copy quote

• Each soul must meet the morning sun, the new sweet earth and the Great Silence alone.

  Charles Alexander Eastman

  Inspirational, Sweet, Morning

  Charles Alexander Eastman (2003). “The Soul of the Indian”, p.12, Courier Corporation

  37 Copy quote

• In the life of the Indian there is only one inevitable duty-the duty of prayer-the daily recognition of the Unseen and Eternal. Our daily devotions were more necessary to us than daily food.

  Charles Alexander Eastman

  Prayer, Unseen, Recognition

  25 Copy quote

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

  Charles Alexander Eastman

  Holy Days, One Day, Needs

  Charles Alexander Eastman, Michael Oren Fitzgerald (2007). “The Essential Charles Eastman (Ohiyesa): Light on the Indian World”, p.15, World Wisdom, Inc

  27 Copy quote

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

  Charles Alexander Eastman

  Shrines, Temples, Save Nature

  Charles Alexander Eastman (2010). “Living in Two Worlds: The American Indian Experience Illustrated”, p.160, World Wisdom, Inc

  34 Copy quote

• 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 Alexander Eastman

  Spiritual, Men, White Man

  Charles Alexander Eastman (2003). “The Soul of the Indian”, p.6, Courier Corporation

  17 Copy quote

• Silence is the cornerstone of character.

  Charles Alexander Eastman

  Character, Silence, Silence Is

  Charles Alexander Eastman, Michael Oren Fitzgerald (2007). “The Essential Charles Eastman (Ohiyesa): Light on the Indian World”, p.23, World Wisdom, Inc

  21 Copy quote

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

  Charles Alexander Eastman

  War, Army, Church

  Charles Alexander Eastman, Michael Oren Fitzgerald (2007). “The Essential Charles Eastman (Ohiyesa): Light on the Indian World”, p.9, World Wisdom, Inc

  25 Copy quote

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

  Charles Alexander Eastman

  Men, Race, Lasts

  Charles Alexander Eastman (2003). “The Soul of the Indian”, p.15, Courier Corporation

  18 Copy quote

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

  Charles Alexander Eastman

  Friendship, True Friend, Men

  Charles Alexander Eastman (2010). “Living in Two Worlds: The American Indian Experience Illustrated”, p.164, World Wisdom, Inc

  51 Copy quote

• We believe profoundly in silence-the sign of a perfect equilibrium. Silence is the absolute poise or balance of body, mind, and spirit.

  Charles Alexander Eastman

  Believe, Native American, Perfect

  16 Copy quote

• As a child I understood how to give; I have forgotten this grace since I became civilized.

  Charles Alexander Eastman

  Children, Native American, Giving

  10 Copy quote

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

  Charles Alexander Eastman

  Government, Social, Units

  Charles Alexander Eastman (2010). “Living in Two Worlds: The American Indian Experience Illustrated”, p.65, World Wisdom, Inc

  6 Copy quote

• Friendship is held to be the severest test of character. It is easy, we think, to be loyal to a family and clan, whose blood is in your own veins.

  Charles Alexander Eastman

  Friendship, Character, Real Friends

  89 Copy quote

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

  Charles Alexander Eastman

  Native American, White, Simplicity

  Charles Alexander Eastman, Michael Oren Fitzgerald (2007). “The Essential Charles Eastman (Ohiyesa): Light on the Indian World”, p.4, World Wisdom, Inc

  12 Copy quote

• If a child is inclined to be grasping, or to cling to any of his or her little possessions, legends are related about the contempt and disgrace falling upon the ungenerous and mean person.

  Charles Alexander Eastman

  Children, Fall, Mean

  7 Copy quote

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

  Charles Alexander Eastman

  Spiritual, Men, Two

  Charles Alexander Eastman (2003). “The Soul of the Indian”, p.3, Courier Corporation

  13 Copy quote

• 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 Alexander Eastman

  Religious, Men, Hands

  Charles Alexander Eastman (2003). “The Soul of the Indian”, p.10, Courier Corporation

  10 Copy quote

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