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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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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
Many
Good
Fathers
Native
Laws
Gave
Learned
Law
Father

More quotes by Chief Joseph

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We ask only that the law shall work alike on all men.
Chief Joseph
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Cursed be he that scalps the reputation of the dead.
Chief Joseph
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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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It takes few words to tell the truth.
Chief Joseph
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All people should be treated the same way on earth.
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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My father... had sharper eyes than the rest of our people.
Chief Joseph
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When my young men began the killing, my heart was hurt.
Chief Joseph
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The first white men of your people who came to our country were named Lewis and Clark.
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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It does not require many words to speak the truth.
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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I labored hard to avoid trouble and bloodshed.
Chief Joseph
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Big name often stands on small legs.
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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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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Good words will not give me back my children.
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
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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