Chief Joseph Quotes
Chief Joseph Quotes
- 1
A chief called Lawyer, because he was a great talker, took the lead in the council, and sold nearly all the Nez Perce country.
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- 2
A man who would not love his father's grave is worse than a wild animal.
Chief-JosephChief Joseph
- 3
All men were made by the Great Spirit Chief. They are all brothers.
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- 4
An Indian respects a brave man, but he despises a coward.
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- 5
For a short time we lived quietly. But this could not last. White men had found gold in the mountains around the land of winding water.
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- 6
From where the sun now stands I will fight no more.
Chief-JosephChief Joseph
- 7
General Howard informed me, in a haughty spirit, that he would give my people 30 days to go back home, collect all their stock, and move onto the reservation.
Chief-JosephChief Joseph
- 8
Good words will not give me back my children.
Chief-JosephChief Joseph
- 9
Hear me, my chiefs! I am tired. My heart is sick and sad. From where the sun now stands, I will fight no more forever.
Chief-JosephChief Joseph
- 10
I am tired of talk that comes to nothing.
Chief-JosephChief Joseph
- 11
I believe much trouble would be saved if we opened our hearts more.
Chief-JosephChief Joseph
- 12
I cannot tell how much my heart suffered for my people while at Leavenworth.
Chief-JosephChief Joseph
- 13
I did not want my people killed. I did not want bloodshed.
Chief-JosephChief Joseph
- 14
I hope that no more groans of wounded men and women will ever go to the ear of the Great Spirit Chief above, and that all people may be one people.
Chief-JosephChief Joseph
- 15
I labored hard to avoid trouble and bloodshed.
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- 16
I only ask of the government to be treated as all other men are treated.
Chief-JosephChief Joseph
- 17
I said in my heart that, rather than have war, I would give up my country.
Chief-JosephChief Joseph
- 18
I saw clearly that war was upon us when I learned that my young men had been secretly buying ammunition.
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- 19
I saw that the war could not be prevented. The time had passed.
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- 20
I want the white people to understand my people.
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- 21
I would give up everything rather than have the blood of white men upon the hands of my people.
Chief-Joseph/">Chief Joseph
- 22
I would have given my own life if I could have undone the killing of white men by my people.
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- 23
If the white man wants to live in peace with the Indian he can live in peace.
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- 24
It does not require many words to speak the truth.
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- 25
It makes my heart sick when I remember all the good words and the broken promises.
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- 26
Lawyer acted without authority from our band. He had no right to sell the Wallowa country.
Chief-Joseph/">Chief Joseph
- 27
My father was the first to see through the schemes of the white man.
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- 28
My father... had sharper eyes than the rest of our people.
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- 29
My people were divided about surrendering.
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- 30
Our people could not talk with these white-faced men, but they used signs which all people understand.
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- 31
Some of you think an Indian is like a wild animal. This is a great mistake.
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- 32
The earth is the mother of all people, and all people should have equal rights upon it.
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- 33
The first white men of your people who came to our country were named Lewis and Clark. They brought many things that our people had never seen. They talked straight. These men were very kind.
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- 34
The Indian race are waiting and praying.
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- 35
The white men told lies for each other. They drove off a great many of our cattle. Some branded our young cattle so they could claim them.
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- 36
War can be avoided, and it ought to be avoided. I want no war.
Chief-Joseph/">Chief Joseph
- 37
We damaged all the big guns we could, and carried away the powder and the lead.
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- 38
We gave up some of our country to the white men, thinking that then we could have peace. We were mistaken. The white man would not let us alone.
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- 39
We had good white friends who advised us against taking the war path. My friend and brother, Mr. Chapman, told us just how the war would end.
Chief-Joseph/">Chief Joseph
- 40
We soon found that the white men were growing rich very fast, and were greedy to possess everything the Indian had.
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- 41
When an Indian fights, he only shoots to kill.
Chief-Joseph/41.php">Chief Joseph
- 42
When my young men began the killing, my heart was hurt.
Chief-Joseph/42.php">Chief Joseph
- 43
Words do not pay for my dead people.
Chief-Joseph/43.php">Chief Joseph
- 44
You might as well expect rivers to run backwards as any man born free to be contented penned up.
Chief-Joseph/44.php">Chief Joseph
