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Famous Chief Joseph Quotes
“I saw that the war could not be prevented. The time had passed.”
“I would have given my own life if I could have undone the killing of white men by my people.”
“If the white man wants to live in peace with the Indian he can live in peace.”
“Lawyer acted without authority from our band. He had no right to sell the Wallowa country.”
“My father... had sharper eyes than the rest of our people.”
“Some of you think an Indian is like a wild animal. This is a great mistake.”
“War can be avoided, and it ought to be avoided. I want no war.”
“The first white men of your people who came to our country were named Lewis and Clark.”
“We are going by you without fighting if you will let us, but we are going by you anyhow!”
“Good words do not last long unless they amount to something.”
“I said in my heart that, rather than have war, I would give up my country.”
“My father was the first to see through the schemes of the white man.”
“I am not a child, I think for myself. No man can think for me.”
“We do not want churches. They will teach us to quarrel about God.”
“I did not want my people killed. I did not want bloodshed.”