A warrior who had more than he needed would make a feast. He went around and invited the old and needy... The man who could thank the food, some worthy old medicine man or warrior said: "... look to the old, they are worthy of old age; they have seen their days and proven themselves. With the help of the Great Spirit, they have attained a ripe old age. At this age the old can predict or give knowledge or wisdom whatever it is; it is so. At the end is a cane. You and your family shall get to where the cane is."

Black Elk (1863 - 1950), Oglala Sioux holy man

The old Indian teaching was that it is wrong to tear loose from its place on the earth anything that may be growing there. It may be cut off, but it should not be uprooted. The trees and the grass have spirits. Whatever one of such growths may be destroyed by some good Indian, his act is done in sadness and with a prayer for forgiveness because of his necessities.

Wooden Leg (late 19th century), Cheyenne

I am going to venture that the man who sat on the ground in his tipi meditating on life and its meaning, accepting the kinship of all creatures, and acknowledging unity with the universe of things was infusing into his being the true essence of civilization.

Luther Standing Bear (1868 - 1939), Oglala Sioux chief