--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The Army is the Indian's best friend." description: "\"“The Army is the Indian's best friend.”\" — George Armstrong Custer" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/721/george-armstrong-custer-32587_army_the-army-is-the-indian-s-best-friend-274_2740036.jpg" --- # The Army is the Indian's best friend. ![“The Army is the Indian's best friend.” quote by George Armstrong Custer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/721/george-armstrong-custer-32587_army_the-army-is-the-indian-s-best-friend-274_2740036.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/721/george-armstrong-custer-32587_army_the-army-is-the-indian-s-best-friend-274_2740036.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/721/george-armstrong-custer-32587_army_the-army-is-the-indian-s-best-friend-274_2740036.jpg) > ““The Army is the Indian's best friend.”” [George Armstrong Custer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-armstrong-custer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He claimed the army protected Native Americans, reflecting a paternalistic view. **In simple terms:** Army as protector of Indians. Key Takeaway Question the narrative of benevolent colonization. Themes colonialism military indigenous peoples Mood critical thoughtful Type historical controversial When to use this quote - military policy - education - museum curation Key Concepts Paternalism historical revisionism Questions to Reflect On - What are the real impacts of such statements? - How can we re‑examine historical narratives? A Different Perspective Oversimplifies complex oppression. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Army](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/army/) [Army Indian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/army-indian-3021125/) [Best friend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/best-friend/) [Custer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/custer/) [Friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship/) [Indian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/indian/) [Indian Best](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/indian-best-3021126/) [Indians](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/indians/) ## Related quotes > [“I expect Custer was crazy enough to believe he would win, being the type of man who carries the whole world within his own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-berger/i-expect-custer-was-crazy-enough-to-believe-he-would-win-being-the/) [Thomas Berger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-berger/) > [Numerical superiority is of no consequence. In battle, victory will go to the best tactician."- G. A. Custer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/numerical-superiority-is-of-no-consequence-in-battle-victory-will-go/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When I joined Custer I donned the uniform of a soldier. It was a bit awkward at first but I soon got to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/calamity-jane/when-i-joined-custer-i-donned-the-uniform-of-a-soldier-it-was-a-bit/) [Calamity Jane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/calamity-jane/) > [General Custer was a close observer and student of personal character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buffalo-bill/general-custer-was-a-close-observer-and-student-of-personal-character/) [Buffalo Bill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buffalo-bill/) > [“Angry white men are on the losing side of history, which is poised to roll over them like a demographic steamroller. Theirs is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-s-kimmel/angry-white-men-are-on-the-losing-side-of-history-which-is-poised-to/) [Michael S. Kimmel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-s-kimmel/) > [The only difference between this and Custer's last stand was that Custer didn't have to look at the tape afterward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-crisp/the-only-difference-between-this-and-custer-s-last-stand-was-that/) [Terry Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-crisp/) > [“News of the disaster at Little Bighorn reached the Eastern Seaboard shortly after July 4, and not just any ordinary July 4 but the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-vanderhaeghe/news-of-the-disaster-at-little-bighorn-reached-the-eastern-seaboard/) [Guy Vanderhaeghe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-vanderhaeghe/) > [“Grant refused to accept that. In a newspaper interview, he placed blame for the disaster squarely on Custer’s shoulders: I regard Custer’s massacre as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-chernow/grant-refused-to-accept-that-in-a-newspaper-interview-he-placed-blame/) [Ron Chernow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-chernow/) > [Custer is said to have boasted that he could ride through the entire Sioux Nation with his Seventh Cavalry, and he was half right.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vine-deloria-jr/custer-is-said-to-have-boasted-that-he-could-ride-through-the-entire/) [Vine Deloria Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vine-deloria-jr/) > [“What's it mean; are you determined To make modern all mankind? If so, you should be be-sermoned And brought back to healthy mind.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-c-abbott/what-s-it-mean-are-you-determined-to-make-modern-all-mankind-if-so/) [Charles C. Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-c-abbott/) > [We need more Democrats in the Senate -Like Custer needed more arrows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/we-need-more-democrats-in-the-senate-like-custer-needed-more-arrows/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [“Custer” by Slipknot”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-l-drake/custer-by-slipknot/) [J.L. Drake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-l-drake/) > [“Just across from Bismarck stood Fort Lincoln where friends and relatives of Custer’s dead cavalrymen still lived, and these emigrating Sioux could perceive such…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-s-connell/just-across-from-bismarck-stood-fort-lincoln-where-friends-and/) [Evan S. Connell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-s-connell/) > [and then she asks me how many sexual partners I've had and I say one or two depending on your definition of what I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherman-alexie/and-then-she-asks-me-how-many-sexual-partners-i-ve-had-and-i-say-one/) [Sherman Alexie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherman-alexie/) > [Custer had dead heroes. Crazy Horse had only live ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-ambrose/custer-had-dead-heroes-crazy-horse-had-only-live-ones/) [Stephen Ambrose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-ambrose/) ## More by George Armstrong Custer > [I would be willing, yes glad, to see a battle every day during my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-armstrong-custer/i-would-be-willing-yes-glad-to-see-a-battle-every-day-during-my-life/) [George Armstrong Custer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-armstrong-custer/) > [Where did all these damn Indians come from?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-armstrong-custer/where-did-all-these-damn-indians-come-from/) [George Armstrong Custer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-armstrong-custer/) > [I appeal to you as a soldier to spare me the humiliation of seeing my regiment march to meet the enemy and I not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-armstrong-custer/i-appeal-to-you-as-a-soldier-to-spare-me-the-humiliation-of-seeing-my/) [George Armstrong Custer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-armstrong-custer/) > [My purpose is to make my narrative as truthful as possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-armstrong-custer/my-purpose-is-to-make-my-narrative-as-truthful-as-possible/) [George Armstrong Custer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-armstrong-custer/) > [Wild Bill was a strange character, add to this figure a costume blending the immaculate neatness of the dandy with the extravagant taste and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-armstrong-custer/wild-bill-was-a-strange-character-add-to-this-figure-a-costume/) [George Armstrong Custer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-armstrong-custer/) > [The Seventh can handle anything it meets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-armstrong-custer/the-seventh-can-handle-anything-it-meets/) [George Armstrong Custer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-armstrong-custer/) > [Benteen, come on, big village, be quick. Bring packs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-armstrong-custer/benteen-come-on-big-village-be-quick-bring-packs/) [George Armstrong Custer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-armstrong-custer/) > [There are not enough Indians in the world to defeat the Seventh Cavalry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-armstrong-custer/there-are-not-enough-indians-in-the-world-to-defeat-the-seventh/) [George Armstrong Custer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-armstrong-custer/) > [If I were an Indian...I would greatly prefer to cast my lot among those of my people who adhere to the free open plains,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-armstrong-custer/if-i-were-an-indian-i-would-greatly-prefer-to-cast-my-lot-among-those/) [George Armstrong Custer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-armstrong-custer/) > [You ask me if I will not be glad when the last battle is fought, so far as the country is concerned I, of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-armstrong-custer/you-ask-me-if-i-will-not-be-glad-when-the-last-battle-is-fought-so/) [George Armstrong Custer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-armstrong-custer/) > [Previous to this time I had never even a balloon except from a distance. Being interested in their construction, I was about to institute…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-armstrong-custer/previous-to-this-time-i-had-never-even-a-balloon-except-from-a/) [George Armstrong Custer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-armstrong-custer/) > [There are far more statues of soldiers out there than there are of civilians.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-armstrong-custer/there-are-far-more-statues-of-soldiers-out-there-than-there-are-of/) [George Armstrong Custer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-armstrong-custer/) > [Hurrah Boys! Let's get these last few reds then head on back to camp. Hurrah!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-armstrong-custer/hurrah-boys-let-s-get-these-last-few-reds-then-head-on-back-to-camp/) [George Armstrong Custer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-armstrong-custer/) [Explore all 14 George Armstrong Custer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-armstrong-custer/) ## More Army quotes > [There are no more worlds to conquer!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-the-great/there-are-no-more-worlds-to-conquer/) [Alexander the Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-the-great/) > [“In American terms, the accomplishment of Genghis Khan might be understood if the United States, instead of being created by a group of educated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-weatherford/in-american-terms-the-accomplishment-of-genghis-khan-might-be/) [Jack Weatherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-weatherford/) > [Every army in the history of the world has always had some deserters, usually much greater than we have today, because once again every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-hilferty/every-army-in-the-history-of-the-world-has-always-had-some-deserters/) [Bryan Hilferty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-hilferty/) > [It is the rule in war, if our forces are ten to the enemy's one, to surround him; if five to one, to attack…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/it-is-the-rule-in-war-if-our-forces-are-ten-to-the-enemy-s-one-to/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [The surprise of an army is now next to an impossibility. ... 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But it's - I'm very clear.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mattis/i-can-t-imagine-that-i-would-be-asked-that-by-the-president-elect/) [James Mattis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mattis/) > [Holy shadows of the dead, I'm not to blame for your cruel and bitter fate, but the accursed rivalry which brought sister nations and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-the-great/holy-shadows-of-the-dead-i-m-not-to-blame-for-your-cruel-and-bitter/) [Alexander the Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-the-great/) > [“The most important lesson that came out of Vietnam for me was that Marines take care of Marines.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-clancy/the-most-important-lesson-that-came-out-of-vietnam-for-me-was-that/) [Tom Clancy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-clancy/) > [One of our great allies at present is the Church itself. Do not misunderstand me. 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It's pretty much what I feel like wearing that day, from a floral-print dress…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shay-mitchell/personally-i-don-t-really-have-a-set-style-or-look-it-s-pretty-much/) [Shay Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shay-mitchell/) > [Growing up with a parent in the army, I saw firsthand the challenges our service members face when transitioning to new jobs after time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharice-davids/growing-up-with-a-parent-in-the-army-i-saw-firsthand-the-challenges/) [Sharice Davids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharice-davids/) > [Don't fire until you see the whites of their eyes!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-prescott/don-t-fire-until-you-see-the-whites-of-their-eyes/) [William H. Prescott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-prescott/) > [Thanks to all members of the military around the world for giving me the ultimate motivation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalya-neidhart/thanks-to-all-members-of-the-military-around-the-world-for-giving-me/) [Natalya Neidhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalya-neidhart/) [Browse all 3,919 Army quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/army/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The Army is the Indian's best friend.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "George Armstrong Custer" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-armstrong-custer/the-army-is-the-indian-s-best-friend/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Army" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-armstrong-custer/the-army-is-the-indian-s-best-friend/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/721/george-armstrong-custer-32587_army_the-army-is-the-indian-s-best-friend-274_2740036.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/721/george-armstrong-custer-32587_army_the-army-is-the-indian-s-best-friend-274_2740036.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/721/george-armstrong-custer-32587_army_the-army-is-the-indian-s-best-friend-274_2740036.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The Army is the Indian's best friend.” — George Armstrong Custer", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "George Armstrong Custer", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-armstrong-custer/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“The Army is the Indian's best...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-armstrong-custer/the-army-is-the-indian-s-best-friend/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-armstrong-custer/the-army-is-the-indian-s-best-friend/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```