All Chief Joseph Quotes
- We ask only that the law shall work alike on all men. Alike
- 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… Asked
- The earth is our mother. She should not be disturbed by hoe or plough. We want only to subsist on what she freely gives us. Disturbed
- I am ready to talk today. I have been in a great many councils, but I am no wiser. We are all sprung from a… All
- We do not want churches. They will teach us to quarrel about God. Church
- It takes few words to tell the truth. Few
- I did not want my people killed. I did not want bloodshed. Bloodshed
- Words do not pay for my dead people. Dead
- The country was made without lines of demarcation, and it is no man's business to divide it... Do not misunderstand me, but understand me fully… Accord
- We had good white friends who advised us against taking the war path. My friend and brother, Mr. Chapman, told us just how the war… Advised
- I cannot tell how much my heart suffered for my people while at Leavenworth. Cannot Tell
- I will obey every law, or submit to the penalty. Every Law
- My people were divided about surrendering. Divided
- The white men told lies for each other. They drove off a great many of our cattle. Some branded our young cattle so they could… Branded
- We damaged all the big guns we could, and carried away the powder and the lead. All
- When my young men began the killing, my heart was hurt. Began
- 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… Found
- I saw clearly that war was upon us when I learned that my young men had been secretly buying ammunition. Ammunition
- I saw that the war could not be prevented. The time had passed. Inspirational
- I would have given my own life if I could have undone the killing of white men by my people. Given