Wise words are beautiful, yet, we must think of more than just the wisdom of these words. For what makes these words beautiful, is not just their seeming gentleness, but the gentleness of how they have bubbled forth in the mind of this particular thinker.
Part of what is to be celebrated, is that this indivdual, just didn’t think these thoughts, but that he thought of them in this way, in this manner, and the gentleness, and uniqueness of the expression, give a hearty resonance to the words. A resonance beyond their meaning.
Chief Dan George was transcribing his thoughts into English from his native words and his native mind. The words are so powerful, that even in translation, they speak of a way, a view, a manner and relationship with the word, that spills forth, but can not be lived.
As Chief Dan George says, “Those who have worn out their shoes many times know where to step. It is not their shoes you can wear only their footsteps you may follow,
- if you let it happen.”
Perhaps there will be a day you will want to sit by my side asking for counsel. I hope I will be there but you see I am growing old. There is no promise that life will live up to our hopes especially to the hopes of the aged. So I write of what I know and some day our hearts will meet in these words
- if you let it happen.
You come from a shy race. Ours are the silent ways. We have always done all things in a gentle manner, so much as the brook that avoids the solid rock in its search for the sea and meets the deer in passing. You too must follow the path of your own race. It is steady and deep, reliable and lasting. It is you
- if you let it happen.
You are a person of little, but it is better to have little of what is good, than to possess much of what is not good. This your heart will know,
- if you let it happen.
Each day brings an hour of magic. Listen to it! Things will whisper their secrets. You will know what fills the herbs with goodness, makes days change into nights, turns the stars and brings the change of seasons. When you have come to know some of nature's wise ways beware of your complacency for you cannot be wiser than nature. You can only be as wise as any man will ever hope to be,
- if you let it happen.
Our ways are good but only in our world I you like the flame on the white man's wick learn of his ways so you can bear his company, yet when you enter his world, you will walk like a stranger. For some time bewilderment will, like an ugly spirit torment you. Then rest on the holy earth and wait for the good spirit. He will return with new ways as his gift to you,
- if you let it happen.
Use the heritage of silence to observe others. If greed has replaced the goodness in a man's eyes see yourself in him so you will learn to understand and preserve yourself. Do not despise the weak, it is compassion that will make you strong.
Does not the rice drop into your basket whilst your breath carries away the chaff? There is good in everything
- if you let it happen.
When the storms close in and the eyes cannot find the horizon you may lose much. Stay with your love for life for it is the very blood running through your veins. As you pass through the years you will find much calmness in your heart. It is the gift of age. And the colors of the fall will be deep and rich, - if you let it happen.
As I see beyond the days of now I see a vision: I see the faces of my people, your sons' sons, your daughters' daughters, laughter fills the air that is no longer yellow and heavy, the machines have died, quietness and beauty have returned to the land. The gentle ways of our race have again put us in the days of the old. It is good to live! It is good to die! - This will happen.
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