What is man without the beasts? For if all the beast were gone, man would die of a great loneliness of the spirit.
Chief SeattleRead
Revenge by young men is considered gain, even at the cost of their own lives, but old men who stay at home in times of war, and mothers who have sons to lose, know better.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Revenge may seem appealing to the young, but true wisdom comes from understanding the cost of conflict and loss.
This quote by Chief Seattle highlights the contrast between the impulsive nature of youth, who may view revenge as a victory, and the more profound understanding of older individuals and mothers who have experienced or witnessed the true ramifications of war and loss. It underscores the wisdom that comes with age and the understanding that the costs of revenge often outweigh any perceived gains.
Themes
RevengeWisdomWarLossUnderstanding
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used to reflect on the futility of revenge during a discussion about conflict resolution.
More from Chief Seattle
All quotes →We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children
Chief SeattleRead
Let him be just and deal kindly with my people, for the dead are not powerless. Dead, did I say? There is no death, only change of worlds.
Chief SeattleRead
All things are connected, like the blood that runs in your family "The water's murmur is the voice of my father's father." 1854 The rivers are our brothers. They quench our thirst. They carry our canoes and feed our children. You must give to the rivers the kindness you would give to any brother.
Chief SeattleRead
The Indian prefers the soft sound of the wind darting over the face of the pond, the smell of the wind itself cleansed by a midday rain, or scented with pinon pine. The air is precious to the red man, for all things are the same breath - the animals, the trees, the man.
Chief SeattleRead
The whites, too, shall pass - perhaps sooner than other tribes. Continue to contaminate your bed and you will one night suffocate in your own waste.
Chief SeattleRead
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