Great Throughts Treasury

This site is dedicated to the memory of Dr. Alan William Smolowe who gave birth to the creation of this database.

Native American Proverbs

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"If we don't turn around now, we just may get where we're going."

"The sacred begins at the tip of your tongue. Be careful when speaking. You create the world around you with your words."

"A danger foreseen is half-avoided. ? Cheyenne Proverb"

"A good man does not take what belongs to someone else. - Pueblo Proverb"

"A good soldier is a poor scout. - Cheyenne Proverb"

"A hungry stomach makes a short prayer. - Paiute Proverb"

"A brave man dies but once, a coward many times. - Iowa Proverb"

"A good chief gives, he does not take. ? Mohawk Proverb"

"A man can't get rich if he takes proper care of his family. - Navajo Proverb"

"A people without a history are like the wind over buffalo grass. ? Sioux Proverb"

"A man must make his own arrows. - Winnebago Proverb"

"A man or woman with many children has many homes. - Lakota Sioux Proverb"

"A rocky vineyard does not need a prayer, but a pick ax. - Navajo Proverb"

"A spear is a big responsibility. - Navajo Proverb"

"A people without faith in themselves cannot survive. ? Hopi Proverb"

"After dark all cats are leopards. ? Zuni Proverb"

"All dreams spin out from the same web. - Hopi Proverb"

"All around me my land is beauty. ? Navajo Proverb"

"All plants are our brothers and sisters. - They talk to us and if we listen, we can hear them. - Arapaho Proverb"

"A starving man will eat with the wolf. - Choctaw Proverb"

"All who have died are equal. - Comanche Proverb"

"Always assume that your guest is tired, cold, and hungry, and act accordingly. - Navaho Proverb"

"An angry word is like striking with a knife. - Hopi Proverb"

"Ask questions from your heart and you will be answered from the heart. - Omaha Proverb"

"Be still and the earth will speak to you. - Navajo Proverb"

"Be satisfied with the needs instead of the wants. - Teton Sioux Proverb"

"Before eating, always take a little time to thank the food. When we show our respect for other living things, they respond with respect for us. If we wonder often, the gift of knowledge will come. Take only what you need and leave the land as you found it. All plants are our brothers and sisters. They talk to us and if we listen, we can hear them. ? Arapaho Proverb"

"Before me peaceful, behind me peaceful, under me peaceful, over me peaceful, all around me peaceful. - Navajo Proverb"

"Coyote is always out there waiting, and Coyote is always hungry. - Navajo Proverb"

"Deeds speak louder than words. - Assiniboine Proverb"

"Cherish youth, but trust old age. - Pueblo Proverb"

"Beware of the man who does not talk, and the dog that does not bark. - Cheyenne Proverb"

"Do not judge your neighbor until you walk two moons in his moccasins. ? Cheyenne Proverb"

"Day and night cannot dwell together. - Duwamish Proverb"

"Do not speak of evil for it creates curiosity in the hearts of the young. ? Lakota Proverb"

"Do not only point out the way, but lead the way. - Sioux Proverb"

"Do not allow anger to poison you. - Hopi Proverb"

"Do not wrong or hate your neighbor for it is not he that you wrong but yourself. ? Pima Proverb"

"Don?t be afraid to cry. It will free your mind of sorrowful thoughts. - Hopi Proverb"

"Don?t let yesterday use up too much of today. ? Cherokee Proverb"

"Don't be afraid to cry. It will free your mind of sorrowful thoughts. - Hopi Proverb"

"Don't allow the grass to grow on the path of friendship. ? Native American Proverb"

"Don?t walk behind me; I may not lead. Don?t walk in front of me; I may not follow. Walk beside me that we may be as one. - Ute Proverb"

"Eating little and speaking little can hurt no man. - Hopi Proverb"

"Each person is his own judge. ? Shawnee Proverb"

"Don't let yesterday use up too much of today. ? Cherokee Proverb"

"Don't walk behind me; I may not lead. Don't walk in front of me; I am not follow. Walk beside me that we may be as one. - Ute Proverb"

"Each bird loves to hear himself sing. ? Arapaho Proverb"

"Even your silence holds a sort of prayer. - Apache Proverb"

"Even a small mouse has anger. - Native American Proverb"