--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: But now that I can see it all as from a…" description: "\"“But now that I can see it all as from a lonely hilltop, I know it was the story of a mighty vision given to a man too weak to use it; of a holy tree t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/75c/black-elk-6745_dream_but-now-that-i-can-see-it-all-as-from-a_1294748.png" --- # But now that I can see it all as from a lonely hilltop, I… ![“But now that I can see it all as from a lonely hilltop, I know it was the story of a mighty vision given to a man too weak to use it; of a holy tree that should have flourished in a people’s heart with flowers and singing birds, and now is withered; and of a people’s dream that died in bloody snow.” quote by Black Elk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/75c/black-elk-6745_dream_but-now-that-i-can-see-it-all-as-from-a_1294748.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/75c/black-elk-6745_dream_but-now-that-i-can-see-it-all-as-from-a_1294748.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/75c/black-elk-6745_dream_but-now-that-i-can-see-it-all-as-from-a_1294748.png) > ““But now that I can see it all as from a lonely hilltop, I know it was the story of a mighty vision given to a man too weak to use it; of a holy tree that should have flourished in a people’s heart with flowers and singing birds, and now is withered; and of a people’s dream that died in bloody snow.”” [Black Elk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/black-elk/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A prophetic lament about a powerful vision lost due to human weakness, resulting in cultural decay and unfulfilled potential. **In simple terms:** A great vision was wasted, causing a people’s dream to die. Key Takeaway Recognize and nurture collective dreams before they with. Themes culture spirituality loss vision Mood melancholic reflective Type poetic philosophical When to use this quote - community revival - cultural preservation - leadership - education - healing Key Concepts prophecy collective identity fragility Questions to Reflect On - How can we revive a lost cultural vision? - What responsibilities do individuals have to protect communal dreams? A Different Perspective The quote assumes a single cause for decline, ignoring external oppression. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dream/) [Dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreams/) ## Related quotes > [“And I can see that something else died there in the bloody mud, and was buried in the blizzard. A people's dream died there.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/black-elk/and-i-can-see-that-something-else-died-there-in-the-bloody-mud-and/) [Black Elk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/black-elk/) > [I did not know then how much was ended. When I look back now from this high hill of my old age, I can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/black-elk/i-did-not-know-then-how-much-was-ended-when-i-look-back-now-from-this/) [Black Elk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/black-elk/) > [...visions are messages from the Great Spirit, each for a different purpose in life. Consequently, one person's vision may not be that of another.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-mccoy/visions-are-messages-from-the-great-spirit-each-for-a-different/) Tim McCoy > [When God gives you a vision and darkness follows, wait. God will bring the vision He has given you to reality in your life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/when-god-gives-you-a-vision-and-darkness-follows-wait-god-will-bring/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [My doctrine is not a doctrine but just a vision. I have not given you any set rules, I have not given you a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buddha/my-doctrine-is-not-a-doctrine-but-just-a-vision-i-have-not-given-you/) [Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buddha/) > [Words of wisdom are best friend .It gives wings to vision.Vision is mirror of future & capability of seeing which is invisible to other.Vision…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dranil-kr-sinha/words-of-wisdom-are-best-friend-it-gives-wings-to-vision-vision-is/) [DrAnil Kr Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dranil-kr-sinha/) > [Beloved, gaze in thine own heart, The holy tree is growing there; From joy the holy branches start, And all the trembling flowers they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-butler-yeats/beloved-gaze-in-thine-own-heart-the-holy-tree-is-growing-there-from-3/) [William Butler Yeats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-butler-yeats/) > [“In what is now known as Bodh Gaya…a Buddhist temple stands beside an ancient pipal, descended from that bodhi tree, or “enlightenment tree,” and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-matthiessen/in-what-is-now-known-as-bodh-gaya-a-buddhist-temple-stands-beside-an/) [Peter Matthiessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-matthiessen/) > [“BELOVED, gaze in thine own heart, The holy tree is growing there; From joy the holy branches start, And all the trembling flowers they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-butler-yeats/beloved-gaze-in-thine-own-heart-the-holy-tree-is-growing-there-from-2/) [William Butler Yeats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-butler-yeats/) > [BELOVED, gaze in thine own heart, The holy tree is growing there;](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/beloved-gaze-in-thine-own-heart-the-holy-tree-is-growing-there/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Beloved, gaze in thine own heart, The holy tree is growing there; From joy the holy branches start, And all the trembling flowers they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-b-yeats/beloved-gaze-in-thine-own-heart-the-holy-tree-is-growing-there-from/) [W.B. Yeats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-b-yeats/) > [When I was younger I used to want to own a sweet shop so I could eat sweets all day, but that dream died…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-nuttall/when-i-was-younger-i-used-to-want-to-own-a-sweet-shop-so-i-could-eat/) [Amy Nuttall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-nuttall/) > [At first blush, it seems that the young people who were shot down in the parking lot at the base of Blanket Hill gave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-kunstler/at-first-blush-it-seems-that-the-young-people-who-were-shot-down-in/) [William Kunstler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-kunstler/) > [“I'm sorry your bad dream died," I said as I left her and walked toward the gate. "And I'm sorry I ever met you,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-conroy/i-m-sorry-your-bad-dream-died-i-said-as-i-left-her-and-walked-toward/) [Pat Conroy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-conroy/) > [Dream that you died It takes you out of your mind The black walls of space Take me all the way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-frusciante/dream-that-you-died-it-takes-you-out-of-your-mind-the-black-walls-of/) [John Frusciante](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-frusciante/) ## More by Black Elk > [Give me strength to walk the soft earth, a relative to all that is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/black-elk/give-me-strength-to-walk-the-soft-earth-a-relative-to-all-that-is/) [Black Elk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/black-elk/) > [So I took the bright red stick and at the center of the nation's hoop I thrust it in the earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/black-elk/so-i-took-the-bright-red-stick-and-at-the-center-of-the-nation-s-hoop/) [Black Elk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/black-elk/) > [We should understand well that all things are the work of the Great Spirit. We should know the Great Spirit is within all things:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/black-elk/we-should-understand-well-that-all-things-are-the-work-of-the-great/) [Black Elk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/black-elk/) > [Hear me, four quarters of the world-a relative I am! Give me the strength to walk the soft earth, a relative to all that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/black-elk/hear-me-four-quarters-of-the-world-a-relative-i-am-give-me-the/) [Black Elk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/black-elk/) > [Everything an Indian does is in a circle, and that is because the power of the world always works in circles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/black-elk/everything-an-indian-does-is-in-a-circle-and-that-is-because-the/) [Black Elk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/black-elk/) > [Grown men can learn from very little children for the hearts of little children are pure. Therefore, the Great Spirit may show to them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/black-elk/grown-men-can-learn-from-very-little-children-for-the-hearts-of/) [Black Elk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/black-elk/) > [It's in the darkness of men's eyes that they get lost.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/black-elk/it-s-in-the-darkness-of-men-s-eyes-that-they-get-lost/) [Black Elk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/black-elk/) > [“And I can see that something else died there in the bloody mud, and was buried in the blizzard. A people's dream died there.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/black-elk/and-i-can-see-that-something-else-died-there-in-the-bloody-mud-and/) [Black Elk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/black-elk/) > [Everything tries to be round.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/black-elk/everything-tries-to-be-round/) [Black Elk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/black-elk/) > [Grown men may learn from very little children, for the hearts of little children are pure, and, therefore, the Great Spirit may show to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/black-elk/grown-men-may-learn-from-very-little-children-for-the-hearts-of/) [Black Elk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/black-elk/) > [The boys of my people began very young to learn the ways of men, and no one taught us; we just learned by doing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/black-elk/the-boys-of-my-people-began-very-young-to-learn-the-ways-of-men-and/) [Black Elk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/black-elk/) > [I know now what this meant, that the bison were the gift of a good spirit and were our strength, but we should lose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/black-elk/i-know-now-what-this-meant-that-the-bison-were-the-gift-of-a-good/) [Black Elk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/black-elk/) > [Peace will come to the hearts of men when they realize their oneness with the universe, It is every where.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/black-elk/peace-will-come-to-the-hearts-of-men-when-they-realize-their-oneness/) [Black Elk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/black-elk/) > [I think I have told you, but if I have not, you must have understood, that a man who has a vision is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/black-elk/i-think-i-have-told-you-but-if-i-have-not-you-must-have-understood/) [Black Elk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/black-elk/) > [You remember that my great vision came to me when I was only nine years old, and you have seen that I was not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/black-elk/you-remember-that-my-great-vision-came-to-me-when-i-was-only-nine/) [Black Elk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/black-elk/) [Explore all 97 Black Elk quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/black-elk/) ## More Dream quotes > [“Once we become sensitive to dreams, we discover that every dynamic in a dream is manifesting itself in some way in our practical lives”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-johnson/once-we-become-sensitive-to-dreams-we-discover-that-every-dynamic-in/) [Robert A. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-johnson/) > [A thing of beauty is a joy for ever;It's loveliness increase;it will never pass into nothingness;but still will keep a bower quiet for us,and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-keats/a-thing-of-beauty-is-a-joy-for-ever-it-s-loveliness-increase-it-will/) [John Keats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-keats/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [“Not that it matters, when you dream, there's no outside or in. Your mind is an unimaginable bloom. A willow catkin as big as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-shapero/not-that-it-matters-when-you-dream-there-s-no-outside-or-in-your-mind/) [Rich Shapero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-shapero/) > [Academically, I was never that interested. I skipped classes. My biggest dream was to have a coffee shop, but I had no idea how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-espinosa/academically-i-was-never-that-interested-i-skipped-classes-my-biggest/) [Daniel Espinosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-espinosa/) > [“As dreams are the healing songs from the wilderness of our unconscious - So wild animals, wild plants, wild landscapes are the healing dreams…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-pendell/as-dreams-are-the-healing-songs-from-the-wilderness-of-our/) [Dale Pendell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-pendell/) > [Alone in a world, With millions of souls Walking in circles Trapped in their dreams unhealthy, unclean walking in circles, now do not disturb…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chester-bennington/alone-in-a-world-with-millions-of-souls-walking-in-circles-trapped-in/) [Chester Bennington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chester-bennington/) > [“Doing the work to transform your dreams into reality is like walking across the earth. It can be that hard, and it can take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dragos-bratasanu/doing-the-work-to-transform-your-dreams-into-reality-is-like-walking/) [Dragos Bratasanu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dragos-bratasanu/) > [As far as Im concerned, I didnt dream - ever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-sturgeon/as-far-as-im-concerned-i-didnt-dream-ever/) [Theodore Sturgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-sturgeon/) > [I have long felt that the way to keep children out of trouble is to keep them interested in things. Lecturing to children is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-disney/i-have-long-felt-that-the-way-to-keep-children-out-of-trouble-is-to/) [Walt Disney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-disney/) > [I guess, it's a father's dream for his daughter to be known around the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liza-soberano/i-guess-it-s-a-father-s-dream-for-his-daughter-to-be-known-around-the/) [Liza Soberano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liza-soberano/) > [I am just enjoying the dream of being Milan coach at the age of 40.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gennaro-gattuso/i-am-just-enjoying-the-dream-of-being-milan-coach-at-the-age-of-40/) [Gennaro Gattuso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gennaro-gattuso/) > [Sometimes life seems like a dream, especially when I look down and see that I forgot to put on my pants.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-handey/sometimes-life-seems-like-a-dream-especially-when-i-look-down-and-see/) [Jack Handey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-handey/) > [“I had a dream. I had an awesome dream.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-had-a-dream-i-had-an-awesome-dream/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“His dream must have seemed so close that he could hardly fail to grasp it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/his-dream-must-have-seemed-so-close-that-he-could-hardly-fail-to/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) [Browse all 26,527 Dream quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dream/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“But now that I can see it all as from a lonely hilltop, I know it was the story of a mighty vision given to a man too weak to use it; of a holy tree that should have flourished in a people’s heart with flowers and singing birds, and now is withered; and of a people’s dream that died in bloody snow.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Black Elk" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/black-elk/but-now-that-i-can-see-it-all-as-from-a-lonely-hilltop-i-know-it-was/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Dream" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/black-elk/but-now-that-i-can-see-it-all-as-from-a-lonely-hilltop-i-know-it-was/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/75c/black-elk-6745_dream_but-now-that-i-can-see-it-all-as-from-a_1294748.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/75c/black-elk-6745_dream_but-now-that-i-can-see-it-all-as-from-a_1294748.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/75c/black-elk-6745_dream_but-now-that-i-can-see-it-all-as-from-a_1294748.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“But now that I can see it all as from a lonely hilltop, I know it was the story of a mighty vision given to…” — Black Elk", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Black Elk", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/black-elk/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“But now that I can see...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/black-elk/but-now-that-i-can-see-it-all-as-from-a-lonely-hilltop-i-know-it-was/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/black-elk/but-now-that-i-can-see-it-all-as-from-a-lonely-hilltop-i-know-it-was/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```