--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The native American has been generally…" description: "\"The native American has been generally despised by his white conquerors for his poverty and simplicity. They forget, perhaps, that his religion forbade..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/938/charles-alexander-eastman-3936_aboriginal_the-native-american-has-been-generally-d_120911.jpg" --- # The native American has been generally despised by his… ![“The native American has been generally despised by his white conquerors for his poverty and simplicity. They forget, perhaps, that his religion forbade the accumulation of wealth and the enjoyment of luxury... Furthermore, it was the rule of his life to share the fruits of his skill and success…” quote by Charles Alexander Eastman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/938/charles-alexander-eastman-3936_aboriginal_the-native-american-has-been-generally-d_120911.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/938/charles-alexander-eastman-3936_aboriginal_the-native-american-has-been-generally-d_120911.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/938/charles-alexander-eastman-3936_aboriginal_the-native-american-has-been-generally-d_120911.jpg) > “The native American has been generally despised by his white conquerors for his poverty and simplicity. They forget, perhaps, that his religion forbade the accumulation of wealth and the enjoyment of luxury... Furthermore, it was the rule of his life to share the fruits of his skill and success with his less fortunate brothers. Thus he kept his spirit free from the clog of pride, cupidity, or envy, and carried out, as he believed, the divine decree-a matter profoundly important to him.” [Charles Alexander Eastman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-alexander-eastman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Native American values emphasized communal sharing, humility, and spiritual freedom over material accumulation, contrasting with colonial disdain. **In simple terms:** Community and humility trump wealth. Key Takeaway Cultural ethos of sharing sustains spiritual liberty. Themes culture humility community spirituality Mood respectful thoughtful Type philosophical cultural When to use this quote - discussing indigenous philosophies - examining anti‑consumerist movements - teaching ethics in schools Key Concepts collectivism vs. individualism materialism critique Practical Applications - Encourage resource sharing initiatives - Promote humility in leadership training Questions to Reflect On - How can societies balance sharing with personal ambition? - What modern practices reflect these values? A Different Perspective Idealizing simplicity may overlook practical needs for modern infrastructure. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Aboriginal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aboriginal/) [Accumulation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accumulation/) [Brother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brother/) [Conqueror](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conqueror/) [Divine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/divine/) [Enjoyment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enjoyment/) [Envy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/envy/) [Free spirit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/free-spirit/) [Fruit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fruit/) [Indians](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/indians/) [Less fortunate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/less-fortunate/) [Luxury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/luxury/) [Native american](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/native-american/) [Poverty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poverty/) [Pride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pride/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Savages](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/savages/) [Simplicity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/simplicity/) [Skills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/skills/) [Spirit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirit/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Wealth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wealth/) ## Related quotes > [The native American has been generally despised by his white conquerors for his poverty and simplicity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-native-american-has-been-generally-despised-by-his-white-2/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The most ultimately righteous of all wars is a war with savages, though it is apt to be also the most terrible and inhuman.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/the-most-ultimately-righteous-of-all-wars-is-a-war-with-savages/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [People look at me, and they don't see what they think is a typical Aboriginal. I always thought I'd be the white person in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shari-sebbens/people-look-at-me-and-they-don-t-see-what-they-think-is-a-typical/) [Shari Sebbens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shari-sebbens/) > [In the European tradition, rivers are seen as divisions between peoples. But in the Aboriginal tradition, rivers are seen as the glue, the highway,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ralston-saul/in-the-european-tradition-rivers-are-seen-as-divisions-between/) [John Ralston Saul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ralston-saul/) > [I have written with some amazing singers and songwriters - the moment with Snoop Dogg was amazing - but being able to tell an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-mauboy/i-have-written-with-some-amazing-singers-and-songwriters-the-moment/) [Jessica Mauboy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-mauboy/) > [“If they follow the way of Money Chiefs, they shall die. Earth is sick and can no longer care for her children. Now, Earth’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fr-d-ric-perrin/if-they-follow-the-way-of-money-chiefs-they-shall-die-earth-is-sick/) Frédéric Perrin > [Over 120 Aboriginal communities run their own health services - some have been doing so for 30 years. They struggle with difficult medical problems.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-fraser/over-120-aboriginal-communities-run-their-own-health-services-some/) [Malcolm Fraser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-fraser/) > [The families of Aboriginals who have died in custody in NSW will suffer again because of these white lies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-murray/the-families-of-aboriginals-who-have-died-in-custody-in-nsw-will/) Arthur Murray > [In 1995, the Paul Keating Labor government commissioned an inquiry into the forcible removal of Aboriginal children.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-flanagan/in-1995-the-paul-keating-labor-government-commissioned-an-inquiry/) [Richard Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-flanagan/) > [Genius . . . arises in the natural, aboriginal concern for the conscious unity of all phenomena.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-hunter-austin/genius-arises-in-the-natural-aboriginal-concern-for-the-conscious/) [Mary Hunter Austin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-hunter-austin/) > [We've had real strong aboriginal male artists who've crossed over to the mainstream who have toured the U.K., who have been a massive influence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-mauboy/we-ve-had-real-strong-aboriginal-male-artists-who-ve-crossed-over-to/) [Jessica Mauboy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-mauboy/) > [Aboriginal people are key because they have a different sense of where we belong and how we interact with nature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suzuki/aboriginal-people-are-key-because-they-have-a-different-sense-of/) [David Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-suzuki/) > [One of my earliest memories is being backstage at 'Bran Nue Dae' in Darwin when I was about eight. It's such a fun, happy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shari-sebbens/one-of-my-earliest-memories-is-being-backstage-at-bran-nue-dae-in/) [Shari Sebbens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shari-sebbens/) > [I'd much rather people knew me as a good tennis player than as an aboriginal who happens to play good tennis. Of course I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evonne-goolagong-cawley/i-d-much-rather-people-knew-me-as-a-good-tennis-player-than-as-an/) [Evonne Goolagong Cawley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evonne-goolagong-cawley/) > [I won the seat of Oxley largely on an issue that has resulted in me being called a racist. That issue related to my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pauline-hanson/i-won-the-seat-of-oxley-largely-on-an-issue-that-has-resulted-in-me/) [Pauline Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pauline-hanson/) ## More by Charles Alexander Eastman > [“The wise man believes profoundly in silence, the sign of a perfect equilibrium. Silence is the absolute poise or balance of body, mind, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-alexander-eastman/the-wise-man-believes-profoundly-in-silence-the-sign-of-a-perfect/) [Charles Alexander Eastman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-alexander-eastman/) > [In the life of the Indian there is only one inevitable duty-the duty of prayer-the daily recognition of the Unseen and Eternal. Our daily…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-alexander-eastman/in-the-life-of-the-indian-there-is-only-one-inevitable-duty-the-duty/) [Charles Alexander Eastman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-alexander-eastman/) > [Friendship is held to be the severest test of character. It is easy, we think, to be loyal to a family and clan, whose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-alexander-eastman/friendship-is-held-to-be-the-severest-test-of-character-it-is-easy-we/) [Charles Alexander Eastman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-alexander-eastman/) > [Friendship is held to be the severest test of character. It is easy, we think, to be loyal to a family and clan, whose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-alexander-eastman/friendship-is-held-to-be-the-severest-test-of-character-it-is-easy-we-2/) [Charles Alexander Eastman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-alexander-eastman/) > [As a child I understood how to give; I have forgotten this grace since I became civilized.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-alexander-eastman/as-a-child-i-understood-how-to-give-i-have-forgotten-this-grace-since/) [Charles Alexander Eastman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-alexander-eastman/) > [If a child is inclined to be grasping, or to cling to any of his or her little possessions, legends are related about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-alexander-eastman/if-a-child-is-inclined-to-be-grasping-or-to-cling-to-any-of-his-or/) [Charles Alexander Eastman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-alexander-eastman/) > [Is there not something worthy of perpetuation in our Indian spirit of democracy, where Earth, our mother, was free to all, and no one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-alexander-eastman/is-there-not-something-worthy-of-perpetuation-in-our-indian-spirit-of/) [Charles Alexander Eastman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-alexander-eastman/) > [If you ask him: "What is silence?" he will answer, "It is the Great Mystery! The holy silence is His voice!" If you ask:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-alexander-eastman/if-you-ask-him-what-is-silence-he-will-answer-it-is-the-great-mystery/) [Charles Alexander Eastman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-alexander-eastman/) > [Silence is the cornerstone of character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-alexander-eastman/silence-is-the-cornerstone-of-character/) [Charles Alexander Eastman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-alexander-eastman/) > [We believe profoundly in silence-the sign of a perfect equilibrium. Silence is the absolute poise or balance of body, mind, and spirit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-alexander-eastman/we-believe-profoundly-in-silence-the-sign-of-a-perfect-equilibrium/) [Charles Alexander Eastman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-alexander-eastman/) [Explore all 11 Charles Alexander Eastman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-alexander-eastman/) ## More Aboriginal quotes > [I won the seat of Oxley largely on an issue that has resulted in me being called a racist. That issue related to my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pauline-hanson/i-won-the-seat-of-oxley-largely-on-an-issue-that-has-resulted-in-me/) [Pauline Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pauline-hanson/) > [I'd much rather people knew me as a good tennis player than as an aboriginal who happens to play good tennis. Of course I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evonne-goolagong-cawley/i-d-much-rather-people-knew-me-as-a-good-tennis-player-than-as-an/) [Evonne Goolagong Cawley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evonne-goolagong-cawley/) > [One of my earliest memories is being backstage at 'Bran Nue Dae' in Darwin when I was about eight. It's such a fun, happy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shari-sebbens/one-of-my-earliest-memories-is-being-backstage-at-bran-nue-dae-in/) [Shari Sebbens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shari-sebbens/) > [Aboriginal people are key because they have a different sense of where we belong and how we interact with nature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suzuki/aboriginal-people-are-key-because-they-have-a-different-sense-of/) [David Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-suzuki/) > [We've had real strong aboriginal male artists who've crossed over to the mainstream who have toured the U.K., who have been a massive influence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-mauboy/we-ve-had-real-strong-aboriginal-male-artists-who-ve-crossed-over-to/) [Jessica Mauboy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-mauboy/) > [Genius . . . arises in the natural, aboriginal concern for the conscious unity of all phenomena.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-hunter-austin/genius-arises-in-the-natural-aboriginal-concern-for-the-conscious/) [Mary Hunter Austin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-hunter-austin/) > [In 1995, the Paul Keating Labor government commissioned an inquiry into the forcible removal of Aboriginal children.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-flanagan/in-1995-the-paul-keating-labor-government-commissioned-an-inquiry/) [Richard Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-flanagan/) > [The families of Aboriginals who have died in custody in NSW will suffer again because of these white lies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-murray/the-families-of-aboriginals-who-have-died-in-custody-in-nsw-will/) Arthur Murray > [Over 120 Aboriginal communities run their own health services - some have been doing so for 30 years. They struggle with difficult medical problems.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-fraser/over-120-aboriginal-communities-run-their-own-health-services-some/) [Malcolm Fraser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-fraser/) > [“If they follow the way of Money Chiefs, they shall die. Earth is sick and can no longer care for her children. Now, Earth’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fr-d-ric-perrin/if-they-follow-the-way-of-money-chiefs-they-shall-die-earth-is-sick/) Frédéric Perrin > [I have written with some amazing singers and songwriters - the moment with Snoop Dogg was amazing - but being able to tell an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-mauboy/i-have-written-with-some-amazing-singers-and-songwriters-the-moment/) [Jessica Mauboy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-mauboy/) > [In the European tradition, rivers are seen as divisions between peoples. But in the Aboriginal tradition, rivers are seen as the glue, the highway,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ralston-saul/in-the-european-tradition-rivers-are-seen-as-divisions-between/) [John Ralston Saul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ralston-saul/) > [People look at me, and they don't see what they think is a typical Aboriginal. I always thought I'd be the white person in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shari-sebbens/people-look-at-me-and-they-don-t-see-what-they-think-is-a-typical/) [Shari Sebbens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shari-sebbens/) > [The most ultimately righteous of all wars is a war with savages, though it is apt to be also the most terrible and inhuman.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/the-most-ultimately-righteous-of-all-wars-is-a-war-with-savages/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [In 1976 I was working in the Gulf Country around Cape York, in an aboriginal community of about 300 people. The Health Department sent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/archie-kalokerinos/in-1976-i-was-working-in-the-gulf-country-around-cape-york-in-an/) [Archie Kalokerinos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/archie-kalokerinos/) [Browse all 184 Aboriginal quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aboriginal/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The native American has been generally despised by his white conquerors for his poverty and simplicity. They forget, perhaps, that his religion forbade the accumulation of wealth and the enjoyment of luxury... Furthermore, it was the rule of his life to share the fruits of his skill and success with his less fortunate brothers. 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