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A Kiowa’s first and last resort was courage. A Kiowa did…

“A Kiowa’s first and last resort was courage. A Kiowa did not beg or plead or appease. She knew at the bitter end she could starve away the despair, deny any sustenance to surrender. She wiped her face again and climbed up into the wagon. Ausay gya kii, gyao boi tol. Prepare for a hard winter…” quote by Paulette Jiles
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““A Kiowa’s first and last resort was courage. A Kiowa did not beg or plead or appease. She knew at the bitter end she could starve away the despair, deny any sustenance to surrender. She wiped her face again and climbed up into the wagon. Ausay gya kii, gyao boi tol. Prepare for a hard winter, prepare for hard times. She braided her hair as if for battle. And so she became quiet and stilled.””

Paulette Jiles

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

A Kiowa woman meets hardship with relentless courage, refusing to surrender even when starving, and prepares for future trials with resolve.

In simple terms: Courage overcomes despair and hardship.

Key Takeaway

Embrace courage in adversity.

Themes

courage resilience survival determination

Mood

determined reflective

Type

narrative inspirational

When to use this quote

  • war
  • hardship
  • personal loss
  • mental health
  • spiritual practice

Key Concepts

Indigenous strength psychological endurance cultural tradition

Questions to Reflect On

  • How can you cultivate inner courage when facing loss?
  • What does “preparing for hard winter” mean in your life?
A Different Perspective

Courage alone may not change external circumstances.

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