Famous Quotes

Quotes by Chief Joseph

• All men were made by the Great Spirit Chief. They are all brothers.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• I know that my race must change.
• I only ask of the government to be treated as all other men are treated.
• I pressed my father's hand and told him I would protect his grave with my life. My father smiled and passed away to the spirit land.
• I said in my heart that, rather than have war, I would give up my country.
• I saw clearly that war was upon us when I learned that my young men had been secretly buying ammunition.
• I saw that the war could not be prevented. The time had passed.
• If the white man wants to live in peace with the Indian he can live in peace.
• It does not require many words to speak the truth.
• It makes my heart sick when I remember all the good words and the broken promises.
• It required a strong heart to stand up against such talk, but I urged my people to be quiet and not to begin a war.
• Let me be a free man - free to travel, free to stop, free to work.
• My father... had sharper eyes than the rest of our people.
• Treat all men alike. Give them the same law. Give them an even chance to live and grow.
• War can be avoided, and it ought to be avoided. I want no war.
• 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.
• 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.