Chief Joseph Quotes

From where the sun now stands I will fight no more.

A man who would not love his father's grave is worse than a wild animal.

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.

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

I labored hard to avoid trouble and bloodshed.

Good words will not give me back my children.

It required a strong heart to stand up against such talk, but I urged my people to be quiet and not to begin a war.

I would give up everything rather than have the blood of white men upon the hands of my people.

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.

A chief called Lawyer, because he was a great talker, took the lead in the council, and sold nearly all the Nez Perce country.

I have heard talk and talk, but nothing is done.

I only ask of the government to be treated as all other men are treated.

All men were made by the Great Spirit Chief. They are all brothers.

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.

We soon found that the white men were growing rich very fast, and were greedy.

I pressed my father's hand and told him I would protect his grave with my life. My father smiled and passed away to the spirit land.

You might as well expect rivers to run backwards as any man born free to be contented penned up.

It does not require many words to speak the truth.

Treat all men alike. Give them the same law. Give them an even chance to live and grow.

An Indian respects a brave man, but he despises a coward.

It makes my heart sick when I remember all the good words and the broken promises.

I am tired of talk that comes to nothing.

The earth is the mother of all people, and all people should have equal rights upon it.

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.

I believe much trouble would be saved if we opened our hearts more.