Quotes By Chief Joseph

I would have given my own life if I could have undone the killing of white men by my people.

War can be avoided, and it ought to be avoided. I want no war.

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

All men were made by the Great Spirit Chief. They are all brothers.

I will speak with a straight tongue.

I know that my race must change.

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

It does not require many words to speak the truth.

I want the white people to understand my people.

From where the sun now stands I will fight no more.

I saw clearly that war was upon us when I learned that my young men had been secretly buying ammunition.

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.

I believe much trouble would be saved if we opened our hearts more.

I have heard talk and talk, but nothing is done.

We damaged all the big guns we could, and carried away the powder and the lead.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The Indian race are waiting and praying.

A chief called Lawyer, because he was a great talker, took the lead in the council, and sold nearly all the Nez Perce country.

My father... had sharper eyes than the rest of our people.

When an Indian fights, he only shoots to kill.

It makes my heart sick when I remember all the good words and the broken promises.

Some of you think an Indian is like a wild animal. This is a great mistake.

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.