Nervous awe, apprehension...and enthusiasm

It is wrong to think of hunting cultures like the Eskimo's as living in perfect harmony or balance with nature. Their regard for animals and their attentiveness to nuance in the landscape were not as rigorous or complete enough to approach an idealized harmony. No one knew that much. No one would say that they knew that much. They faced nature with fear, with ilira (nervous awe) and kappia (apprehension). And with enthusiasm.

-- Arctic Dreams by Barry Lopez (1986)