Native American Proverbs

Native American Museum, Washington, D.C.

"All things in the world are two. In our minds we are two, good and evil. With our eyes we see two things, things that are fair and things that are ugly.... We have the right hand that strikes and makes for evil, and we have the left hand full of kindness, near the heart. One foot may lead us to an evil way, the other foot may lead us to a good. So are all things two, all two."  - Eagle Chief (Letakos-Lesa) Pawnee

Day and night cannot dwell together. - Duwamish

What is life? It is the flash of a firefly in the night. It is the breath of a buffalo in the wintertime. It is the little shadow which runs across the grass and loses itself in the sunset. - Blackfoot

A pearl is worthless as long as it is in its shell.

All dreams spin out from the same web. - Hopi

We will be known forever by the tracks we leave. - Dakota

When you were born, you cried and the world rejoiced. Live your life so that when you die, the world cries and you rejoice. - Cherokee

The coward shoots with shut eyes. - Oklahoma

As you go the way of life you will see a great chasm. Jump. It is not as wide as you think.

It is easy to be brave from a distance. - Omaha

Those who have one foot in the canoe, and one foot in the boat, are going to fall into the river. - Tuscarora

It is not enough for a man to know how to ride, he must also know how to fall.

It is better to have less thunder in the mouth and more lightning in the hand. - Apache

Each person is his own judge. - Pima

Don't let yesterday use up too much of today. - Cherokee

If you see no reason for giving thanks, the fault lies in yoruself. - Minquass

They are not dead who live in the hearts they leave behind. - Tuscarora

A man must make his own arrows. - Winnebago

Listen or your tongue will keep you deaf. - Cherokee

The soul would have no rainbow if the eyes had no tears.

You can't wake a person who is pretending to be asleep. - Navajo