"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. To him, as to other single-minded men in every age and race, from Diogenes to the brothers of Saint Francis, from the Montanists to the Shakers, the love of possessions has appeared a snare, and the burdens of a complex society a source of needless peril and temptation. 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."
Quote Details
Added by wikiquote-import-bot
Unverified quote
0 likes
Autobiographers from the United StatesNative AmericansDartmouth College alumniPhysicians from Minnesota
Original Language: English
Available Languages (1)
Sources
Imported from EN Wikiquote
https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Charles_Eastman
Revision History
No revisions have been submitted for this quote.
Categories
Charles Eastman
Charles Alexander Eastman (born Hakadah and later named OhĂyesa; February 19, 1858 – January 8, 1939) was a Santee physician educated at Dartmo
41 quotes on TrueQuotesView all quotes by Charles Eastman →
Related Quotes
"Love between a man and a woman is founded on the mating instinct and is not free from desire and self-seeking. But to…"
"Nearness to nature ... keeps the spirit sensitive to impressions not commonly felt and in touch with the unseen powers."
"The elements and majestic forces in nature, Lightning, Wind, Water, Fire, and Frost, were regarded with awe as spirit…"
"The American Indian was an individualist in religion as in war. He had neither a national army nor an organized churc…"
"In every religion there is an element of the supernatural, varying with the influence of pure reason over its devotees."
"The true Indian sets no price upon either his property or his labor. His generosity is limited only by his strength a…"
"Each soul must meet the morning sun, the new sweet earth, and the Great Silence alone! What is Silence? It is the Gre…"
"The clan is nothing more than a larger family, with its patriarchal chief as the natural head, and the union of sever…"
"Friendship is held to be the severest test of character. It is easy, we think, to be loyal to a family and clan, whos…"
"There was no religious ceremony connected with marriage among us, while on the other hand the relation between man an…"