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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
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Chief Joseph
Age: 64 †
Born: 1840
Born: March 3
Died: 1904
Died: September 21
Tribal Chief
Wallowa Valley
Joseph Buruzagia
Hin-mut-too-uah-lat-kekht
Thunder Rolling in the Mountains
Heinmot Tooyalaket
Joseph the Younger
Men
Thinking
Mistaken
Gave
Alone
Peace
White
Country
Would
More quotes by Chief Joseph
I only ask of the Government to be treated as all other men are treated. If I cannot go to my own home, let me have a home in a country where my people will not die so fast.
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I will speak with a straight tongue.
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I saw clearly that war was upon us when I learned that my young men had been secretly buying ammunition.
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We damaged all the big guns we could, and carried away the powder and the lead.
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I am tired of talk that comes to nothing.
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It makes my heart sick when I remember all the good words and the broken promises.
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My father... had sharper eyes than the rest of our people.
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If the white man wants to live in peace with the Indian, he can live in peace. There need be no trouble. Treat all men alike. give them all the same law. Give them all an even chance to live and grow.
Chief Joseph
I am tired of talk that comes to nothing It makes my heart sick when I remember all the good words and all the broken promises. There has been too much talking by men who had no right to talk. It does not require many words to speak the truth.
Chief Joseph
Our chiefs are killed. . . . The little children are freezing to death. . . . My people have no blankets, no food. . . . My heart is sick and sad. . . . I will fight no more forever.
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It does not require many words to speak the truth.
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Good words will not give me back my children.
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We ask only that the law shall work alike on all men.
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I saw that the war could not be prevented. The time had passed.
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Our fathers gave us many laws which they had learned from their fathers. These laws were good.
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We were taught to believe that the Great Spirit sees and hears everything, and that he never forgets that hereafter he will give every man a spirit-home according to his deserts: if he has been a good man, he will have a good home if he has been a bad man, he will have a bad home. This I believe, and all my people believe the same.
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Cursed be he that scalps the reputation of the dead.
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The earth is our mother. She should not be disturbed by hoe or plough. We want only to subsist on what she freely gives us.
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Big name often stands on small legs.
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I did not want my people killed. I did not want bloodshed.
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