Quote

Good words will not give me back my children.

Chief Joseph

Change background

T
T
T

Change font

TAGS & TOPICS

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
Back
Giving
Children
Good
Words
Give

More quotes by Chief Joseph

Image
I would have given my own life if I could have undone the killing of white men by my people.
Chief Joseph
Image
Lawyer acted without authority from our band. He had no right to sell the Wallowa country.
Chief Joseph
Image
Finest fur may cover toughest meat.
Chief Joseph
Image
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
Image
It makes my heart sick when I remember all the good words and the broken promises.
Chief Joseph
Image
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
Image
I will speak with a straight tongue.
Chief Joseph
Image
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
Image
An Indian respects a brave man, but he despises a coward.
Chief Joseph
Image
The first white men of your people who came to our country were named Lewis and Clark.
Chief Joseph
Image
It does not require many words to speak the truth.
Chief Joseph
Image
We were contented to let things remain as the Great Spirit Chief made them. They were not and would change the rivers and mountains if they did not suit them.
Chief Joseph
Image
Treat all men alike. Give them the same law. Give them an even chance to live and grow.
Chief Joseph
Image
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.
Chief Joseph
Image
We damaged all the big guns we could, and carried away the powder and the lead.
Chief Joseph
Image
I am tired of talk that comes to nothing.
Chief Joseph
Image
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
Image
The Indian race is waiting and praying.
Chief Joseph
Image
Our fathers gave us many laws which they had learned from their fathers. These laws were good.
Chief Joseph
Image
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.
Chief Joseph