Quotes

“Lawyer acted without authority from our band. He had no right to sell the Wallowa country.” Chief Joseph

“My father... had sharper eyes than the rest of our people.” Chief Joseph

“Our people could not talk with these white-faced men, but they used signs which all people understand.” Chief Joseph

“Some of you think an Indian is like a wild animal. This is a great mistake.” Chief Joseph

“War can be avoided, and it ought to be avoided. I want no war.” Chief Joseph

“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

“Governor Isaac Stevens of the Washington Territory said there were a great many white people in our country, and many more would come; that he wanted the land marked out so that the Indians and the white man could be separated.” Chief Joseph

“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 Joseph

“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.” Chief Joseph

“We gathered all the stock we could find, and made an attempt to move. We left many of our horses and cattle in Wallowa. We lost several hundred in crossing the river.” Chief Joseph

“A thing of beauty is a joy forever: its loveliness increases; it will never pass into nothingness.” John Keats

“Nothing ever becomes real till it is experienced.” John Keats

“'Beauty is truth, truth beauty,' - that is all ye know on earth, and all ye need to know.” John Keats

“You are always new, the last of your kisses was ever the sweetest.” John Keats

“Love is my religion - I could die for it.” John Keats

“I love you the more in that I believe you had liked me for my own sake and for nothing else.” John Keats

“Now a soft kiss - Aye, by that kiss, I vow an endless bliss.” John Keats

“Do you not see how necessary a world of pains and troubles is to school an intelligence and make it a soul?” John Keats

“Heard melodies are sweet, but those unheard are sweeter.” John Keats

“I am certain of nothing but the holiness of the heart's affections, and the truth of imagination.” John Keats

“I have been astonished that men could die martyrs for religion - I have shuddered at it. I shudder no more - I could be martyred for my religion - Love is my religion - I could die for that.” John Keats

“The only means of strengthening one's intellect is to make up one's mind about nothing, to let the mind be a thoroughfare for all thoughts.” John Keats

“The poetry of the earth is never dead.” John Keats

“I would sooner fail than not be among the greatest.” John Keats

“Land and sea, weakness and decline are great separators, but death is the great divorcer for ever.” John Keats

“Scenery is fine - but human nature is finer.” John Keats

“I will give you a definition of a proud man: he is a man who has neither vanity nor wisdom one filled with hatreds cannot be vain, neither can he be wise.” John Keats

“Here lies one whose name was writ in water.” John Keats

“You speak of Lord Byron and me; there is this great difference between us. He describes what he sees I describe what I imagine. Mine is the hardest task.” John Keats

“Philosophy will clip an angel's wings.” John Keats