--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I thought of something I learned from…" description: "\"“I thought of something I learned from reading Crazy Horse: The Strange Man of the Oglalas by Mari Sandoz. Crazy Horse believes that he will be victori..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d39/patti-smith-394_strange-man_i-thought-of-something-i-learned-from-re_259379.jpg" --- # I thought of something I learned from reading Crazy Horse… ![“I thought of something I learned from reading Crazy Horse: The Strange Man of the Oglalas by Mari Sandoz. Crazy Horse believes that he will be victorious in battle, but if he stops to take spoils from the battlefield, he will be defeated. He tattoos lightning bolts on the ears of his horses so the…” quote by Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d39/patti-smith-394_strange-man_i-thought-of-something-i-learned-from-re_259379.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d39/patti-smith-394_strange-man_i-thought-of-something-i-learned-from-re_259379.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d39/patti-smith-394_strange-man_i-thought-of-something-i-learned-from-re_259379.jpg) > ““I thought of something I learned from reading Crazy Horse: The Strange Man of the Oglalas by Mari Sandoz. Crazy Horse believes that he will be victorious in battle, but if he stops to take spoils from the battlefield, he will be defeated. He tattoos lightning bolts on the ears of his horses so the sight of them will remind him of this as he rides. I tried to apply this lesson to the things at hand, careful not to take spoils that were not rightfully mine.”” [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Victory depends on focus; taking extra rewards distracts and can cause defeat. **In simple terms:** Stay focused, avoid claiming unearned gains. Key Takeaway Prioritize the mission over extra gains. Themes focus integrity discipline Mood determined reflective Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - military leadership - business negotiations - personal goal setting - team projects Key Concepts Native American strategy psychology of success Questions to Reflect On - What temptations distract you from your core goal? - How can you remind yourself to stay disciplined? A Different Perspective Success can be undermined by greed or overreaching. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Crazy horse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crazy-horse/) ## Related quotes > [To an eagle or to an owl or to a rabbit, man must seem a masterful and yet a forlorn animal; he has but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beryl-markham/to-an-eagle-or-to-an-owl-or-to-a-rabbit-man-must-seem-a-masterful-and/) [Beryl Markham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beryl-markham/) > [I've been reading about Crazy Horse and Custer for a long, long time, and I thought that if I was going to write a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-hobbs/i-ve-been-reading-about-crazy-horse-and-custer-for-a-long-long-time/) [Will Hobbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-hobbs/) > [Custer had dead heroes. Crazy Horse had only live ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-ambrose/custer-had-dead-heroes-crazy-horse-had-only-live-ones/) [Stephen Ambrose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-ambrose/) > [Before making a great movement, stay motionless for a good while! If you give legs to the rocks, they will start running like crazy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/before-making-a-great-movement-stay-motionless-for-a-good-while-if/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [“Crazy Horse dreamed and went into the world where there is nothing but the spirits of all things. That is the real world that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/black-elk/crazy-horse-dreamed-and-went-into-the-world-where-there-is-nothing/) [Black Elk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/black-elk/) > [I believe that when Crazy Horse was killed, something more than a man's life was snuffed out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-frazier/i-believe-that-when-crazy-horse-was-killed-something-more-than-a-man/) [Ian Frazier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-frazier/) > [Crazy Horse saw history as integrated in the present, incorporated into daily life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-ambrose/crazy-horse-saw-history-as-integrated-in-the-present-incorporated/) [Stephen Ambrose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-ambrose/) > [“Our culture's quest to hide death behind a facade of denial has made fools and pretended immortals of us all. Perhaps it would be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-paul-evans/our-culture-s-quest-to-hide-death-behind-a-facade-of-denial-has-made/) [Richard Paul Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-paul-evans/) > [“Would Crazy Horse have spent this much to remodel a kitchen?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-frazier/would-crazy-horse-have-spent-this-much-to-remodel-a-kitchen/) [Ian Frazier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-frazier/) > [Even Crazy Horses is a good song, by the Osmonds. I've known many bands who have covered that. It's just a great song. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-elliott/even-crazy-horses-is-a-good-song-by-the-osmonds-i-ve-known-many-bands/) [Joe Elliott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-elliott/) > [Silence,they say,is the voice of complicity. But silence is impossible. Silence screams. Silence is the message,just as doing nothing is an act. Let who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-peltier/silence-they-say-is-the-voice-of-complicity-but-silence-is-impossible/) [Leonard Peltier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-peltier/) > [“Pegi just recorded "I Don't Want to Talk About," written by Danny Whitten, the original Crazy Horse guitar player and singer who's all over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-young/pegi-just-recorded-i-don-t-want-to-talk-about-written-by-danny/) [Neil Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-young/) > [“All that existed was precious in Crazy Horse’s religion—whatever a man did or thought was good, was wakan, so long as he obeyed his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-e-ambrose/all-that-existed-was-precious-in-crazy-horse-s-religion-whatever-a/) [Stephen E. Ambrose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-e-ambrose/) > [With Crazy Horse, it's all one big, growing, smoldering sound, and I'm part of it. It's like gliding, or some sort of natural surfing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-young/with-crazy-horse-it-s-all-one-big-growing-smoldering-sound-and-i-m/) [Neil Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-young/) > [I love 'Crazy Horse,' and Neil Young is one of my favorite guitar players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juliana-hatfield/i-love-crazy-horse-and-neil-young-is-one-of-my-favorite-guitar-players/) [Juliana Hatfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juliana-hatfield/) ## More by Patti Smith > [I had a really happy childhood - my siblings were great, my mother was very fanciful, and I loved to read. But there was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/i-had-a-really-happy-childhood-my-siblings-were-great-my-mother-was/) [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) > [As a citizen, hopefully I'm humanist. As an artist, I'm free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/as-a-citizen-hopefully-i-m-humanist-as-an-artist-i-m-free/) [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) > [ Sometimes \[people\] seem to think I came out of the womb, you know, cursing, with an electric guitar. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/sometimes-people-seem-to-think-i-came-out-of-the-womb-you-know/) [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) > [“Inside it he inscribed a few lines of poetry, portraying us as the gypsy and the fool, one creating silence; one listening closely to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/inside-it-he-inscribed-a-few-lines-of-poetry-portraying-us-as-the/) [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) > [Who can know the heart of youth but youth itself?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/who-can-know-the-heart-of-youth-but-youth-itself/) [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) > [“I clawed through a thick web of the culture’s consciousness that I hadn’t known existed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/i-clawed-through-a-thick-web-of-the-culture-s-consciousness-that-i/) [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) > [Ultimately, we are not seeking others to bow to, but to reinforce our individual natures, to help us suffer our own choices, to guide…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/ultimately-we-are-not-seeking-others-to-bow-to-but-to-reinforce-our/) [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) > [If I'm taking a picture of Brancusi's grave, I know that there's something of him, of his mortal remains, beneath my feet, and there's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/if-i-m-taking-a-picture-of-brancusi-s-grave-i-know-that-there-s/) [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) > [I'm certain, as we filled down the great staircase, that I appeared the same as ever, a moping twelve years-old, all arms and legs.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/i-m-certain-as-we-filled-down-the-great-staircase-that-i-appeared-the/) [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) > [In art and dream may you proceed with abandon. In life may you proceed with balance and stealth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/in-art-and-dream-may-you-proceed-with-abandon-in-life-may-you-proceed/) [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) > [New York is the thing that seduced me. New York is the thing that formed me. New York is the thing that deformed me.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/new-york-is-the-thing-that-seduced-me-new-york-is-the-thing-that/) [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) > [I don't wanna be equal with anybody. I wanna be above equal. I don't think most people are equal to me. I'd like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/i-don-t-wanna-be-equal-with-anybody-i-wanna-be-above-equal-i-don-t/) [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) > [I think I'm constantly in a state of adjustment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/i-think-i-m-constantly-in-a-state-of-adjustment/) [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) > [Somehow I started introducing writing into my drawings, and after a time, the language took over and I started getting very involved with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/somehow-i-started-introducing-writing-into-my-drawings-and-after-a/) [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) > [I'm okay with roaming around the world in my bunk for days on end. Maybe every third day I'll get a shower or stumble…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/i-m-okay-with-roaming-around-the-world-in-my-bunk-for-days-on-end/) [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) [Explore all 595 Patti Smith quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) ## More Crazy horse quotes > [“Our culture's quest to hide death behind a facade of denial has made fools and pretended immortals of us all. Perhaps it would be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-paul-evans/our-culture-s-quest-to-hide-death-behind-a-facade-of-denial-has-made/) [Richard Paul Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-paul-evans/) > [With Crazy Horse, it's all one big, growing, smoldering sound, and I'm part of it. It's like gliding, or some sort of natural surfing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-young/with-crazy-horse-it-s-all-one-big-growing-smoldering-sound-and-i-m/) [Neil Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-young/) > [“All that existed was precious in Crazy Horse’s religion—whatever a man did or thought was good, was wakan, so long as he obeyed his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-e-ambrose/all-that-existed-was-precious-in-crazy-horse-s-religion-whatever-a/) [Stephen E. Ambrose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-e-ambrose/) > [“Pegi just recorded "I Don't Want to Talk About," written by Danny Whitten, the original Crazy Horse guitar player and singer who's all over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-young/pegi-just-recorded-i-don-t-want-to-talk-about-written-by-danny/) [Neil Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-young/) > [Silence,they say,is the voice of complicity. But silence is impossible. Silence screams. Silence is the message,just as doing nothing is an act. Let who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-peltier/silence-they-say-is-the-voice-of-complicity-but-silence-is-impossible/) [Leonard Peltier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-peltier/) > [Even Crazy Horses is a good song, by the Osmonds. I've known many bands who have covered that. It's just a great song. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-elliott/even-crazy-horses-is-a-good-song-by-the-osmonds-i-ve-known-many-bands/) [Joe Elliott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-elliott/) > [“Would Crazy Horse have spent this much to remodel a kitchen?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-frazier/would-crazy-horse-have-spent-this-much-to-remodel-a-kitchen/) [Ian Frazier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-frazier/) > [Crazy Horse saw history as integrated in the present, incorporated into daily life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-ambrose/crazy-horse-saw-history-as-integrated-in-the-present-incorporated/) [Stephen Ambrose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-ambrose/) > [I believe that when Crazy Horse was killed, something more than a man's life was snuffed out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-frazier/i-believe-that-when-crazy-horse-was-killed-something-more-than-a-man/) [Ian Frazier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-frazier/) > [“Crazy Horse dreamed and went into the world where there is nothing but the spirits of all things. That is the real world that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/black-elk/crazy-horse-dreamed-and-went-into-the-world-where-there-is-nothing/) [Black Elk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/black-elk/) > [Before making a great movement, stay motionless for a good while! If you give legs to the rocks, they will start running like crazy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/before-making-a-great-movement-stay-motionless-for-a-good-while-if/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [Custer had dead heroes. Crazy Horse had only live ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-ambrose/custer-had-dead-heroes-crazy-horse-had-only-live-ones/) [Stephen Ambrose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-ambrose/) > [I've been reading about Crazy Horse and Custer for a long, long time, and I thought that if I was going to write a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-hobbs/i-ve-been-reading-about-crazy-horse-and-custer-for-a-long-long-time/) [Will Hobbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-hobbs/) > [I love 'Crazy Horse,' and Neil Young is one of my favorite guitar players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juliana-hatfield/i-love-crazy-horse-and-neil-young-is-one-of-my-favorite-guitar-players/) [Juliana Hatfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juliana-hatfield/) > [Crazy Horse dreamed and went into the world where there is nothing but the spirits of things. That is the real world that is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/black-elk/crazy-horse-dreamed-and-went-into-the-world-where-there-is-nothing-2/) [Black Elk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/black-elk/) [Browse all 18 Crazy horse quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crazy-horse/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I thought of something I learned from reading Crazy Horse: The Strange Man of the Oglalas by Mari Sandoz. Crazy Horse believes that he will be victorious in battle, but if he stops to take spoils from the battlefield, he will be defeated. He tattoos lightning bolts on the ears of his horses so the sight of them will remind him of this as he rides. 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