Chief Joseph quotes

Chief Joseph was a leader of the Nez Perce tribe, renowned for his resistance to the U.S. government's attempts to force his people from their ancestral lands. His eloquence and dignity during the Nez Perce War earned him national admiration. He became a symbol of Native American courage and the struggle for justice. Here are 78 of his quotes:

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

Chief Joseph

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

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.

Chief Joseph

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

Chief Joseph

We ask only that the law shall work alike on all men.

Chief Joseph

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

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.

Chief Joseph

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

Chief Joseph

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

Chief Joseph

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

Chief Joseph

Our people could not talk with these white-faced men, but they used signs which all people understand.

Chief Joseph

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

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.

Chief Joseph

Some of you think an Indian is like a wild animal. This is a great mistake.

Chief Joseph

I am tired of talk that comes to nothing.

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.

Chief Joseph

I cannot tell how much my heart suffered for my people while at Leavenworth.

Chief Joseph

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

Chief Joseph