“There was a man who killed a buffalo bull to no purpose, only he wanted the blood on his hands.”
Explore This Quote Further
Quote Analysis
In this quote by N. Scott Momaday, the man's actions of killing a buffalo bull serve no practical purpose other than wanting the blood on his hands. This suggests a sense of emptiness or lack of purpose in the man's actions. The act of killing the buffalo bull purely for the sake of having blood on his hands could symbolize a need for power, control, or a desire to prove something to himself or others. It may also hint at a disconnect from nature and a disregard for the consequences of one's actions. Overall, this quote highlights the complexities of human behavior and the potential motivations behind seemingly senseless actions.
Modern Relevance:
In today's society, the quote "There was a man who killed a buffalo bull to no purpose, only he wanted the blood on his hands" by N. Scott Momaday serves as a powerful reminder of the destructive nature of senseless violence and the consequences of actions driven by ego or selfish desires. This quote highlights the importance of thoughtfulness and intentionality in all our actions, as well as the need to consider the impact of our choices on the world around us.
Example Usage
In the novel House Made of Dawn, N. Scott Momaday illustrates the destructive nature of senseless violence through the act of killing a buffalo bull for no reason. The quote, "There was a man who killed a buffalo bull to no purpose, only he wanted the blood on his hands," highlights the character's lack of respect for life and serves as a metaphor for the consequences of reckless actions.
Reflection Questions:
Reflecting on this quote by N. Scott Momaday, consider the meaning behind the man's actions and the possible consequences of his unnecessary act of killing the buffalo bull.
- What do you think drove the man to kill the buffalo bull without any purpose?
- How do you interpret the significance of having blood on one's hands in this context?
- What lessons can be learned from this quote in terms of respect for nature and the consequences of senseless actions?
- How can this quote be applied to real-life situations where individuals may act impulsively or without considering the consequences of their actions?
- In what ways can we strive to be more mindful and respectful of the world around us to avoid senseless destruction or harm?
Similar quotes
“Once in his life a man ought to concentrate his mind upon the remembered earth. He ought to give himself up to a particular landscape in his experience; to look at it from as many angles as he can, to wonder about it, to dwell upon it. He ought to imagine that he touches it with his hands at every season and listens to the sounds that are made upon it. He ought to imagine the creatures there and all the faintest motions of the wind. He ought to recollect the glare of the moon and the colors of the dawn and dusk.”
“He used both hands when he made the bear. Imagine a bear proceeding from the hands of God.”
“In the white man's world, language, too -- and the way which the white man thinks of it--has undergone a process of change. The white man takes such things as words and literatures for granted, as indeed he must, for nothing in his world is so commonplace. On every side of him there are words by the millions, an unending succession of pamphlets and papers, letters and books, bills and bulletins, commentaries and conversations. He has diluted and multiplied the Word, and words have begun to close in on him. He is sated and insensitive; his regard for language -- for the Word itself -- as an instrument of creation has diminished nearly to the point of no return. It may be that he will perish by the Word.”
“Writing engenders in us certain attitudes toward language. It encourages us to take words for granted. Writing has enabled us to store vast quantities of words indefinitely. This is advantageous on the one hand but dangerous on the other. The result is that we have developed a kind of false security where language is concerned, and our sensitivity to language has deteriorated. And we have become in proportion insensitive to silence.”
“There was only the dark infinity in which nothing was. And something happened. At the distance of a star something happened, and everything began. The Word did not come into being, but it was. It did not break upon the silence, but it was older than the silence and the silence was made of it.”
“We are what we imagine. Our very existence consists in our imagination of ourselves. Our best destiny is to imagine, at least, completely, who and what, and that we are. The greatest tragedy that can befall us is to go unimagined.”