Wisdom

Quote
There is always a fine line that most people cross when talking about someone or a group of people. Once you say the words you can't take them back. "They are like the hurtful words you have spoken for so long. You can never bring them back; even so you chased after them all your life." (Marshall III 199). I feel like this quote is saying that no matter how hard you try to take back hurtful words you've said about someone they never truly go away.

The Gully
In this virtue, Marshall lll talks about how he and his grandfather were coming home from a trip and he wanted to travel through a gully full of snow. The boy is young and so inexperienced he does not realize it was a dumb idea. The only thing that was in his mind was the fact that if he took the short cut he would be home soon. So he runs ahead and runs into the gully and falls through the snow and gets stuck in a hole in the snow. His grandfather then pulls the boy with a rock and a rope. The boy asked his grandfather how he knew that he was stuck, and the grandfather says I made the same mistake and had to be saved by my grandfather. So the boy asked why he didn't stop him. The grandfather says: if I didn't let you-you would have never known not to let your children go. This shows how much wisdom he had as he uses his experience and mistakes to make sure other people learn.

Lakota Culture
The virtue is Wisdom. The Lakota describe wisdom as life's gift. You are given that gift once you do simple things that will help you out in the long run. For example: sacrificing for your family, practicing generosity, respecting everyone in the Great Circle of Life, etc. The Lakota see knowledge as one part of wisdom. Knowledge is knowing something, wisdom is knowing what to do and say, or what not to do or say. Wisdom is the cure of impatience, willfulness, anger, and ignorance. The Lakota say “Wisdom can prevent us from making fools of ourselves.”

Virtue
This virtue is one of the main virtues of Lakota culture. Cultures all across the world share this same virtue. This is proved through how Lakota Indians support each other and forgive. It is very important in the Lakota culture. Without it, the very fabric of their society would fall apart. This virtue is the key to happiness. Without happiness, there is no will to live. With no will to live, there will be no productivity. For example, my grandma is very wise, and I have learned a lot from her and her stories. If she had never told me any of these stories, I would be so lost in the world.