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Chief Joseph
Quotes by Chief Joseph
Quotes by Chief Joseph
“I believe much trouble would be saved if we opened our hearts more.”
Chief Joseph
“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 Joseph
“I am tired of talk that comes to nothing.”
Chief Joseph
“The earth is the mother of all people, and all people should have equal rights upon it.”
Chief Joseph
“It makes my heart sick when I remember all the good words and the broken promises.”
Chief Joseph
“It does not require many words to speak the truth.”
Chief Joseph
“An Indian respects a brave man, but he despises a coward.”
Chief Joseph
“Treat all men alike. Give them the same law. Give them an even chance to live and grow.”
Chief Joseph
“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.”
Chief Joseph
“You might as well expect rivers to run backwards as any man born free to be contented penned up.”
Chief Joseph
“We soon found that the white men were growing rich very fast, and were greedy.”
Chief Joseph
“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 Joseph
“All men were made by the Great Spirit Chief. They are all brothers.”
Chief Joseph
“I have heard talk and talk, but nothing is done.”
Chief Joseph
“I labored hard to avoid trouble and bloodshed.”
Chief Joseph
“I only ask of the government to be treated as all other men are treated.”
Chief Joseph
“We did not know there were other people besides the Indian until about one hundred winters ago, when some men with white faces came to our country.”
Chief Joseph
“A chief called Lawyer, because he was a great talker, took the lead in the council, and sold nearly all the Nez Perce country.”
Chief Joseph
“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.”
Chief Joseph
“Good words will not give me back my children.”
Chief Joseph
“Let me be a free man - free to travel, free to stop, free to work.”
Chief Joseph
“We had a great many horses, of which we gave Lewis and Clark what they needed, and they gave us guns and tobacco in return.”
Chief Joseph
“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.”
Chief Joseph
“I would give up everything rather than have the blood of white men upon the hands of my people.”
Chief Joseph
“A man who would not love his father's grave is worse than a wild animal.”
Chief Joseph
“We ask to be recognized as men.”
Chief Joseph
“From where the sun now stands I will fight no more.”
Chief Joseph
“I will speak with a straight tongue.”
Chief Joseph
“The Indian race are waiting and praying.”
Chief Joseph
“I said in my heart that, rather than have war, I would give up my country.”
Chief Joseph
