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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
Gave
Alone
Peace
White
Country
Would
Men
Thinking
Mistaken

More quotes by Chief Joseph

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From where the sun now stands I will fight no more.
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It makes my heart sick when I remember all the good words and the broken promises.
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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.
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Cursed be he that scalps the reputation of the dead.
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I labored hard to avoid trouble and bloodshed.
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Lawyer acted without authority from our band. He had no right to sell the Wallowa country.
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It does not require many words to speak the truth.
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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.
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You might as well expect rivers to run backwards as any man born free to be contented penned up.
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The Indian race is waiting and praying.
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I do not believe that the Great Spirit Chief gave one kind of men the right to tell another kind of men what they must do.
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We were like deer. They were like grizzly bear.
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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.
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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.
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A man who would not love his father's grave is worse than a wild animal.
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My people were divided about surrendering.
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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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It takes few words to tell the truth.
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I am tired of talk that comes to nothing.
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Look twice at a two-faced man.
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