Chief Joseph quotes

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. (Chief Joseph)
Treat all men alike. Give them the same law. Give them an even chance to live and grow. View quote
Chief Joseph
I believe much trouble would be saved if we opened our hearts more. View quote
Chief Joseph
Let me be a free man, free to travel, free to stop, free to work, free to trade where I choose, free to choose my own teachers, free to follow the religion of my fathers, free to talk, think and act for myself - and I will obey every law or submit to the penalty. View quote
Chief Joseph
You might as well expect rivers to run backwards as any man born free to be contented penned up. View quote
Chief Joseph
When I think of our condition, my heart is heavy. I see men of my own race treated as outlaws and driven from country to country, or shot down like animals. View quote
Chief Joseph
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. View quote
Chief Joseph
I only ask of the Government to be treated as all other men are treated. If I cannot go to my own home, let me have a home in a country where my people will not die so fast. View quote
Chief Joseph
I know that my race must change. We cannot hold our own with the white men as we are. We only ask an even chance to live as other men live. We ask to be recognized as men. We ask that the same law shall work alike on all men. If an Indian breaks the law, punish him by the law. If a white man breaks the law, punish him also. View quote
Chief Joseph
We ask only that the law shall work alike on all men. View quote
Chief Joseph
It does not require many words to speak the truth. (Chief Joseph)
The earth is the mother of all people, and all people should have equal rights upon it. View quote
Chief Joseph
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. View quote
Chief Joseph
It makes my heart sick when I remember all the good words and the broken promises. View quote
Chief Joseph
We soon found that the white men were growing rich very fast, and were greedy. View quote
Chief Joseph
All men were made by the Great Spirit Chief. They are all brothers. View quote
Chief Joseph
Our people could not talk with these white-faced men, but they used signs which all people understand. View quote
Chief Joseph
An Indian respects a brave man, but he despises a coward. View quote
Chief Joseph
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. View quote
Chief Joseph
Some of you think an Indian is like a wild animal. This is a great mistake. View quote
Chief Joseph
Good words will not give me back my children. (Chief Joseph)
I am tired of talk that comes to nothing. View quote
Chief Joseph
For a short time we lived quietly. But this could not last. White men had found gold in the mountains around the land of winding water. View quote
Chief Joseph
I cannot tell how much my heart suffered for my people while at Leavenworth. View quote
Chief Joseph
Let me be a free man - free to travel, free to stop, free to work. View quote
Chief Joseph