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

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
Native
Indian
Travel
Stop
Free
Work

More quotes by Chief Joseph

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Some of you think an Indian is like a wild animal. This is a great mistake.
Chief Joseph
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Finest fur may cover toughest meat.
Chief Joseph
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We were like deer. They were like grizzly bear.
Chief Joseph
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All people should be treated the same way on earth.
Chief Joseph
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Cursed be he that scalps the reputation of the dead.
Chief Joseph
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I am tired of talk that comes to nothing.
Chief Joseph
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I would have given my own life if I could have undone the killing of white men by my people.
Chief Joseph
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You might as well expect rivers to run backwards as any man born free to be contented penned up.
Chief Joseph
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A man who would not love his father's grave is worse than a wild animal.
Chief Joseph
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I believe much trouble would be saved if we opened our hearts more.
Chief Joseph
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From where the sun now stands I will fight no more.
Chief Joseph
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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.
Chief Joseph
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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.
Chief Joseph
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My people were divided about surrendering.
Chief Joseph
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I saw that the war could not be prevented. The time had passed.
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.
Chief Joseph
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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
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Lawyer acted without authority from our band. He had no right to sell the Wallowa country.
Chief Joseph
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I did not want my people killed. I did not want bloodshed.
Chief Joseph
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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.
Chief Joseph