Quotes By Chief Joseph

I cannot tell how much my heart suffered for my people while at Leavenworth.

I said in my heart that, rather than have war, I would give up my country.

We soon found that the white men were growing rich very fast, and were greedy.

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.

I am tired of talk that comes to nothing.

We ask to be recognized as men.

Words do not pay for my dead people.

I would give up everything rather than have the blood of white men upon the hands of my people.

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.

If the white man wants to live in peace with the Indian he can live in peace.

You might as well expect rivers to run backwards as any man born free to be contented penned up.

I labored hard to avoid trouble and bloodshed.

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.

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.

A man who would not love his father's grave is worse than a wild animal.

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.

My father was the first to see through the schemes of the white man.

I saw that the war could not be prevented. The time had passed.

Treat all men alike. Give them the same law. Give them an even chance to live and grow.

When my young men began the killing, my heart was hurt.

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.

An Indian respects a brave man, but he despises a coward.

Good words will not give me back my children.

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.

Let me be a free man - free to travel, free to stop, free to work.

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.

My people were divided about surrendering.