Quote

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.

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
Spirit
Dad
Hands
Tears
Would
Protect
Life
Told
Pressed
Land
Smiled
Hand
Grave
Father
Graves
Away
Passed

More quotes by Chief Joseph

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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.
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It does not require many words to speak the truth.
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It takes few words to tell the truth.
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Good words will not give me back my children.
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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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A man who would not love his father's grave is worse than a wild animal.
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I am tired of talk that comes to nothing.
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Lawyer acted without authority from our band. He had no right to sell the Wallowa country.
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I will speak with a straight tongue.
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All people should be treated the same way on earth.
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Cursed be he that scalps the reputation of the dead.
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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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Big name often stands on small legs.
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Look twice at a two-faced man.
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When the last deer disappears into the morning mist, When the last elk vanishes from the hills, When the last buffalo falls on the plains, I will hunt mice for I am a hunter and I must have my freedom.
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All men were made brothers. The earth is the mother of all people, and all people should have equal rights upon it. You might as well expect the rivers to run backward as that any man who was born free should be content when penned up and denied liberty to go where he pleases.
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I have asked some of the great white chiefs where they get their authority to say to the Indian that he shall stay in one place, while he sees white men going where they please. They cannot tell me.
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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.
Chief Joseph
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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 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.
Chief Joseph