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Animals
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We know what the animals do, what are the needs of the beaver, the bear, the salmon, and other creatures, because long ago men married them and acquired this knowledge from their animal wives. Today the priests say we lie, but we know better.
-American Indian Proverb
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Character
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An old Cherokee is teaching his grandson about life:
A fight is going on inside me, he said to the boy. It is a terrible fight and it is between two wolves. One is evil - he is anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego. The other is good - he is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith. This same fight is going on inside you - and inside every other person, too.
The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather,Which wolf will win?
The old Cherokee simply replied, The one you feed.
-American Indian Proverb
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Conservation
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We do not inherit the land from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children.
-American Indian Proverb
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Criticism
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Never criticize a man until you've walked a mile in his moccasins.
-American Indian Proverb
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Guilt
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He who is present at a wrongdoing and does not lift a hand to prevent it, is as guilty as the wrongdoers.
-American Indian Proverb, Omaha
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Judging, Judgment
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Great Spirit, help me never to judge another until I have walked in his moccasins.
-American Indian Proverb
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Learning
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Listen or thy tongue will keep thee deaf.
-American Indian Proverb
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Money
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Only when the last tree has been cut down; Only when the last river has been poisoned; Only when the last fish has been caught; Only then will you find that money cannot be eaten.
-American Indian Proverb
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Only after the last tree has been cut down,
only after the last river has ben poisoned,
only after the last fish has been caught,
only then will you find that money cannot be eaten.
-American Indian Proverb, Cree Indian Prophecy
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Past, the
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What is past and cannot be prevented should not be grieved for.
-American Indian Proverb, Pawnee
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Proverbial Wisdom
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Misfortunes do not flourish on one path, they grow everywhere.
-American Indian Proverb, Pawnee
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A hungry stomach makes a short prayer.
-American Indian Proverb, Paiute
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Do not wrong or hate your neighbor for it is not he that you wrong but yourself.
-American Indian Proverb, Pima
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Make my enemy brave and strong, so that if defeated, I will not be ashamed.
-American Indian Proverb, Plains Indian
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Cherish youth, but trust old age.
-American Indian Proverb, Pueblo
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Sharing and giving are the ways of God.
-American Indian Proverb, Sauk
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We are all one child spinning through Mother Sky.
-American Indian Proverb, Shawnee
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Each person is his own judge.
-American Indian Proverb, Shawnee
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Sing your death song and die like a hero going home.
-American Indian Proverb, Shawnee
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Show respect for all men, but grovel to none.
-American Indian Proverb, Shawnee
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We are made from Mother Earth and we go back to Mother Earth.
-American Indian Proverb, Shenandoah
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It is no longer good enough to cry peace, we must act peace, live peace and live in peace.
-American Indian Proverb, Shenandoah
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When a favor is shown to a white man, he feels it in his head and the tongue speaks out; when a kindness is shown to an Indian, he feels it in his heart and the heart has no tongue.
-American Indian Proverb, Shoshone
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With all things and in all things,we are relatives.
-American Indian Proverb, Sioux
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Poverty is a noose that strangles humility and breeds disrespect for God and man.
-American Indian Proverb, Sioux
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Books by and about American Indian Proverb