--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If I thought that I was doing it myself…" description: "\"If I thought that I was doing it myself, the hole would close up and no power could come through. Then everything I could do would be foolish.\" — Black..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d6d/black-elk-6745_foolish_if-i-thought-that-i-was-doing-it-myself_1800657.png" --- # If I thought that I was doing it myself, the hole would… ![“If I thought that I was doing it myself, the hole would close up and no power could come through. Then everything I could do would be foolish.” quote by Black Elk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d6d/black-elk-6745_foolish_if-i-thought-that-i-was-doing-it-myself_1800657.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d6d/black-elk-6745_foolish_if-i-thought-that-i-was-doing-it-myself_1800657.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d6d/black-elk-6745_foolish_if-i-thought-that-i-was-doing-it-myself_1800657.png) > “If I thought that I was doing it myself, the hole would close up and no power could come through. Then everything I could do would be foolish.” [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. The quote suggests that true power comes from humility and allowing external forces to act; believing one controls everything leads to futility. **In simple terms:** Humility lets greater forces work. Key Takeaway Accept limits and trust greater forces. Themes humility power faith interdependence spirituality Mood reflective spiritual Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - leadership - creative endeavors - spiritual practice - teamwork Key Concepts indigenous wisdom philosophy psychology Questions to Reflect On - What does humility enable in your life? - How can you balance effort with surrender? A Different Perspective Over-reliance on personal control can cause stagnation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Close Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/close-power-2028712/) [Doing Hole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doing-hole-2028711/) [Foolish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/foolish/) [Hole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hole/) [Hole Close](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hole-close-2028710/) [Holes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/holes/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Native](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/native/) [Native american](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/native-american/) [Native american dream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/native-american-dream/) [Would be](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/would-be/) ## Related quotes > [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/) > [Even the seasons form a great circle in their changing, and always come back again to where they were. 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It is not necessary for eagles to be crows. Now we are poor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sitting-bull/each-man-is-good-in-the-sight-of-the-great-spirit-it-is-not-necessary/) [Sitting Bull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sitting-bull/) > [Treat the earth well: it was not given to you by your parents, it was loaned to you by your children. We do not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/crazy-horse/treat-the-earth-well-it-was-not-given-to-you-by-your-parents-it-was/) [Crazy Horse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/crazy-horse/) > [The sky is round, and I have heard that the earth is round like a ball, and so are all the stars. The wind,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/black-elk/the-sky-is-round-and-i-have-heard-that-the-earth-is-round-like-a-ball/) [Black Elk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/black-elk/) ## 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. 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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 Foolish quotes > [...it isn't foolish or wicked to enjoy. Wickedness is hurting people on purpose. I love what you are and who you are and how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-d-macdonald/it-isn-t-foolish-or-wicked-to-enjoy-wickedness-is-hurting-people-on/) [John D. MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-d-macdonald/) > [I was so foolish to ever leave your side, Searching for what was right before my eyes. 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