--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We did not think of the great open…" description: "\"We did not think of the great open plains, the beautiful rolling hills, and winding streams with tangled growth as wild. Earth was beautiful and we wer..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e6a/luther-standing-bear-22443_american-indian_we-did-not-think-of-the-great-open-plain_1945289.jpg" --- # We did not think of the great open plains, the beautiful… ![“We did not think of the great open plains, the beautiful rolling hills, and winding streams with tangled growth as wild. Earth was beautiful and we were surrounded with the blessings of the Great Mystery.” quote by Luther Standing Bear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e6a/luther-standing-bear-22443_american-indian_we-did-not-think-of-the-great-open-plain_1945289.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e6a/luther-standing-bear-22443_american-indian_we-did-not-think-of-the-great-open-plain_1945289.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e6a/luther-standing-bear-22443_american-indian_we-did-not-think-of-the-great-open-plain_1945289.jpg) > “We did not think of the great open plains, the beautiful rolling hills, and winding streams with tangled growth as wild. Earth was beautiful and we were surrounded with the blessings of the Great Mystery.” [Luther Standing Bear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luther-standing-bear/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Describing nature's beauty and mystery, feeling surrounded by blessings. **In simple terms:** Seeing nature as a sacred, mysterious gift. Key Takeaway Cultivate reverence for the natural world. Themes nature spirituality gratitude Mood reflective reverent Type spiritual philosophical When to use this quote - outdoor activities - mindfulness practices - environmental education Key Concepts mystery blessings environmental reverence Questions to Reflect On - How does this perspective affect your environmental actions? - What mysteries in nature inspire you? A Different Perspective May romanticize nature without acknowledging challenges. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [American indian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-indian/) [Beautiful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beautiful/) [Blessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blessing/) [Earth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/earth/) [Growth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/growth/) [Hills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hills/) [Indian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/indian/) [Indian culture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/indian-culture/) [Lakota](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lakota/) [Modern culture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/modern-culture/) [Mystery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mystery/) [Native america](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/native-america/) [Native american](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/native-american/) [Native american earth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/native-american-earth/) [Native american indian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/native-american-indian/) [Rolling hills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rolling-hills/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Wilderness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wilderness/) ## Related quotes > [“We did not think of the great open plains, the beautiful rolling hills and the winding streams with tangled growth, as 'wild'. Only to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-goble/we-did-not-think-of-the-great-open-plains-the-beautiful-rolling-hills/) Paul Goble > [“Here, they grow in narrow cracks and gullies. But out in the Drylands, they grow on open plains.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/skye-melki-wegner/here-they-grow-in-narrow-cracks-and-gullies-but-out-in-the-drylands/) Skye Melki-Wegner > [“I am this wild earth, come for you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-ness/i-am-this-wild-earth-come-for-you/) [Patrick Ness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-ness/) > [As Earth warriors, we choose to be participants in the ancient battle between good and evil. On our side stand the waters and wind,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-coronado/as-earth-warriors-we-choose-to-be-participants-in-the-ancient-battle/) [Rod Coronado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-coronado/) > [Kinship with all creatures of the earth, sky and water was a real and active principle. In the animal and bird world there existed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luther-standing-bear/kinship-with-all-creatures-of-the-earth-sky-and-water-was-a-real-and-2/) [Luther Standing Bear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luther-standing-bear/) > [Only to the white man was nature a 'wilderness'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luther-standing-bear/only-to-the-white-man-was-nature-a-wilderness/) [Luther Standing Bear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luther-standing-bear/) > [Only to the white man was nature a "wilderness" and only to him was the land "infested" with "wild" animals and "savage" people. To…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luther-standing-bear/only-to-the-white-man-was-nature-a-wilderness-and-only-to-him-was-the/) [Luther Standing Bear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luther-standing-bear/) > [For the Lakota there was no wilderness. Nature was not dangerous but hospitable, not forbidding but friendly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luther-standing-bear/for-the-lakota-there-was-no-wilderness-nature-was-not-dangerous-but/) [Luther Standing Bear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luther-standing-bear/) > ["Civilization" has been thrust upon me since the days of the reservations, and it has not added one whit to my sense of justice,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luther-standing-bear/civilization-has-been-thrust-upon-me-since-the-days-of-the/) [Luther Standing Bear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luther-standing-bear/) > [The old Lakota was wise. He knew that a man's heart away from nature becomes hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luther-standing-bear/the-old-lakota-was-wise-he-knew-that-a-man-s-heart-away-from-nature/) [Luther Standing Bear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luther-standing-bear/) > [The old people came literally to love the soil and they sat or reclined on the ground with a feeling of being close to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luther-standing-bear/the-old-people-came-literally-to-love-the-soil-and-they-sat-or/) [Luther Standing Bear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luther-standing-bear/) > [Knowledge was inherent in all things. The world was a library.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luther-standing-bear/knowledge-was-inherent-in-all-things-the-world-was-a-library/) [Luther Standing Bear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luther-standing-bear/) > [The old Lakota was wise. He knew that man's heart, away from nature, becomes hard; he knew that lack of respect for growing, living…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luther-standing-bear/the-old-lakota-was-wise-he-knew-that-man-s-heart-away-from-nature/) [Luther Standing Bear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luther-standing-bear/) > [Silence is the Mother of Truth, for the silent man was ever to be trusted, while the man ever ready with speech was never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luther-standing-bear/silence-is-the-mother-of-truth-for-the-silent-man-was-ever-to-be/) [Luther Standing Bear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luther-standing-bear/) > [Conversation was never begun at once, nor in a hurried manner. No one was quick with a question, no matter how important, and no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luther-standing-bear/conversation-was-never-begun-at-once-nor-in-a-hurried-manner-no-one/) [Luther Standing Bear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luther-standing-bear/) ## More by Luther Standing Bear > ["Civilization" has been thrust upon me since the days of the reservations, and it has not added one whit to my sense of justice,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luther-standing-bear/civilization-has-been-thrust-upon-me-since-the-days-of-the/) [Luther Standing Bear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luther-standing-bear/) > [Men must be born and reborn to belong. Their bodies must be formed of the dust of their forefathers bones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luther-standing-bear/men-must-be-born-and-reborn-to-belong-their-bodies-must-be-formed-of/) [Luther Standing Bear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luther-standing-bear/) > [Civilization has been thrust upon me... and it has not added one whit to my love for truth, honesty, and generosity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luther-standing-bear/civilization-has-been-thrust-upon-me-and-it-has-not-added-one-whit-to/) [Luther Standing Bear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luther-standing-bear/) > [The man who sat on the ground in his tipi meditating on life and its meaning, accepting the kinship of all creatures and acknowledging…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luther-standing-bear/the-man-who-sat-on-the-ground-in-his-tipi-meditating-on-life-and-its/) [Luther Standing Bear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luther-standing-bear/) > [Silence is the Mother of Truth, for the silent man was ever to be trusted, while the man ever ready with speech was never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luther-standing-bear/silence-is-the-mother-of-truth-for-the-silent-man-was-ever-to-be/) [Luther Standing Bear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luther-standing-bear/) > [The old Lakota was wise. He knew that man's heart, away from nature, becomes hard; he knew that lack of respect for growing, living…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luther-standing-bear/the-old-lakota-was-wise-he-knew-that-man-s-heart-away-from-nature/) [Luther Standing Bear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luther-standing-bear/) > [Knowledge was inherent in all things. The world was a library.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luther-standing-bear/knowledge-was-inherent-in-all-things-the-world-was-a-library/) [Luther Standing Bear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luther-standing-bear/) > [Certain small ways and observances sometimes have connection with large and more profound ideas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luther-standing-bear/certain-small-ways-and-observances-sometimes-have-connection-with/) [Luther Standing Bear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luther-standing-bear/) > [The old people came literally to love the soil and they sat or reclined on the ground with a feeling of being close to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luther-standing-bear/the-old-people-came-literally-to-love-the-soil-and-they-sat-or/) [Luther Standing Bear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luther-standing-bear/) > [The old Lakota was wise. He knew that a man's heart away from nature becomes hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luther-standing-bear/the-old-lakota-was-wise-he-knew-that-a-man-s-heart-away-from-nature/) [Luther Standing Bear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luther-standing-bear/) > [After all the great religions have been preached and expounded, man is still confronted with the Great Mystery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luther-standing-bear/after-all-the-great-religions-have-been-preached-and-expounded-man-is/) [Luther Standing Bear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luther-standing-bear/) > [Training began with children who were taught to sit still and enjoy it. They were taught to use their organs of smell, to look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luther-standing-bear/training-began-with-children-who-were-taught-to-sit-still-and-enjoy/) [Luther Standing Bear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luther-standing-bear/) > [It is the mothers not the warriors who create a people and guide their destiny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luther-standing-bear/it-is-the-mothers-not-the-warriors-who-create-a-people-and-guide/) [Luther Standing Bear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luther-standing-bear/) > [“There is a road in the hearts of all of us, hidden and seldom traveled, which leads to an unkown, secret place. The old…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luther-standing-bear/there-is-a-road-in-the-hearts-of-all-of-us-hidden-and-seldom-traveled/) [Luther Standing Bear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luther-standing-bear/) > [For the Lakota there was no wilderness. Nature was not dangerous but hospitable, not forbidding but friendly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luther-standing-bear/for-the-lakota-there-was-no-wilderness-nature-was-not-dangerous-but/) [Luther Standing Bear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luther-standing-bear/) [Explore all 27 Luther Standing Bear quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luther-standing-bear/) ## More American indian quotes > [I told my friend - we were working on a movie together - and he gave me a script and asked me to give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karla-souza/i-told-my-friend-we-were-working-on-a-movie-together-and-he-gave-me-a/) [Karla Souza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karla-souza/) > [Language is decanted and shared. If only one person is left alive speaking a language - the case with some American Indian languages -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-mae-brown/language-is-decanted-and-shared-if-only-one-person-is-left-alive/) [Rita Mae Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-mae-brown/) > [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/) > [Humor is widely used by Indians to deal with life. Indian gatherings are marked by laughter and jokes, many directed at the horrors of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-gunn-allen/humor-is-widely-used-by-indians-to-deal-with-life-indian-gatherings/) [Paula Gunn Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-gunn-allen/) > [I am tired of talk that comes to nothing It makes my heart sick when I remember all the good words and all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chief-joseph/i-am-tired-of-talk-that-comes-to-nothing-it-makes-my-heart-sick-when/) [Chief Joseph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chief-joseph/) > [There are more American Indians alive today than there were when Columbus arrived or at any other time in history. Does this sound like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/there-are-more-american-indians-alive-today-than-there-were-when/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [Next time!' In what calendar are kept the records of those next times which never come?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-hunt-jackson/next-time-in-what-calendar-are-kept-the-records-of-those-next-times/) [Helen Hunt Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-hunt-jackson/) > [I think awards in this country at this time are inappropriate to be received or given until the condition of the American Indian is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlon-brando/i-think-awards-in-this-country-at-this-time-are-inappropriate-to-be/) [Marlon Brando](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlon-brando/) > [So, one of the things I was doing with the aliens in The Quiet Invasion was creating that advanced society which had ideas about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-zettel/so-one-of-the-things-i-was-doing-with-the-aliens-in-the-quiet/) [Sarah Zettel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-zettel/) > [I've always considered myself a man of integrity as a leader of the American Indian Movement and of Indian people. I will stand that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-means/i-ve-always-considered-myself-a-man-of-integrity-as-a-leader-of-the/) [Russell Means](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-means/) > [“The white man will never be alone. Let him be just, and deal kindly with my people. For the dead are not powerless.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chief-seattle/the-white-man-will-never-be-alone-let-him-be-just-and-deal-kindly/) [Chief Seattle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chief-seattle/) > [Would movie moguls release a film portraying Adolph Hitler as a great benefactor of the Jews? Hardly. Would they release a movie if the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-wildmon/would-movie-moguls-release-a-film-portraying-adolph-hitler-as-a-great/) Donald Wildmon > [If ever we are constrained to lift the hatchet against any tribe, we will never lay it down till that tribe is exterminated, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/if-ever-we-are-constrained-to-lift-the-hatchet-against-any-tribe-we/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [There was such a relationship between the buffalo and the American Indian - the Indians would eat them, live inside their pelts, use every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-kilmer/there-was-such-a-relationship-between-the-buffalo-and-the-american/) [Val Kilmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-kilmer/) > [Now Christianity sounded good at first to the naive convert. Love, peace and charity - what's wrong with that? I'll tell you what's wrong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-s-burroughs/now-christianity-sounded-good-at-first-to-the-naive-convert-love/) [William S. Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-s-burroughs/) [Browse all 174 American indian quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-indian/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We did not think of the great open plains, the beautiful rolling hills, and winding streams with tangled growth as wild. 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