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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

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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
Mountain
Contented
Spirit
Suit
Change
Chief
Great
Chiefs
Made
Mountains
Things
Suits
Would
Rivers
Remain

More quotes by Chief Joseph

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I labored hard to avoid trouble and bloodshed.
Chief Joseph
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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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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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My father... had sharper eyes than the rest of our people.
Chief Joseph
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Our fathers gave us many laws which they had learned from their fathers. These laws were good.
Chief Joseph
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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.
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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When my young men began the killing, my heart was hurt.
Chief Joseph
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I saw clearly that war was upon us when I learned that my young men had been secretly buying ammunition.
Chief Joseph
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Finest fur may cover toughest meat.
Chief Joseph
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We ask only that the law shall work alike on all men.
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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The Indian race is waiting and praying.
Chief Joseph
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Treat all men alike. Give them the same law. Give them an even chance to live and grow.
Chief Joseph
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Good words will not give me back my children.
Chief Joseph
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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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I believe much trouble would be saved if we opened our hearts more.
Chief Joseph
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An Indian respects a brave man, but he despises a coward.
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 know that my race must change.
Chief Joseph