An odd thing occurs in the minds of Americans when Indian civilization is mentioned: little or nothing.

For the American Indian, the ability of all creatures to share in the process of ongoing creation makes all things sacred.

Breath is life, and the intermingling of breaths is the purpose of good living. This is in essence the great principle on which all productive living must rest . . .; in this way each individual life may also be fulfilled.

Americans' great and secret fear is that America may turn out to be a phenomenon rather than a civilization.

Americans want action for their money. They are fascinated by its self-reproducing qualities if it's put to work . . .

So who's perfect? Washington had false teeth. Franklin was nearsighted. Mussolini had syphilis. Unpleasant things have been said about Walt Whitman and Oscar Wilde. Tchaikovsky had his problems, too. And Lincoln was constipated.