Chief Joseph quotes

“When an Indian fights, he only shoots to kill.”

— Chief Joseph

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

— Chief Joseph

“I will obey every law, or submit to the penalty.”

— Chief Joseph

“My father was the first to see through the schemes of the white man.”

— Chief Joseph

“My people were divided about surrendering.”

— Chief Joseph

“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 claim them.”

— Chief Joseph

“We damaged all the big guns we could, and carried away the powder and the lead.”

— Chief Joseph

“When my young men began the killing, my heart was hurt.”

— Chief Joseph

“Words do not pay for my dead people.”

— 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 did not want my people killed. I did not want bloodshed.”

— Chief Joseph

“I know that my race must change.”

— Chief Joseph

“I saw clearly that war was upon us when I learned that my young men had been secretly buying ammunition.”

— Chief Joseph

“I saw that the war could not be prevented. The time had passed.”

— Chief Joseph

“I want the white people to understand my people.”

— Chief Joseph

“I would have given my own life if I could have undone the killing of white men by my people.”

— Chief Joseph

“If the white man wants to live in peace with the Indian he can live in peace.”

— Chief Joseph

“Lawyer acted without authority from our band. He had no right to sell the Wallowa country.”

— Chief Joseph

“My father... had sharper eyes than the rest of our people.”

— Chief Joseph

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

— Chief Joseph

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

— Chief Joseph

“War can be avoided, and it ought to be avoided. I want no war.”

— Chief Joseph

“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 would end.”

— Chief Joseph

“Governor Isaac Stevens of the Washington Territory said there were a great many white people in our country, and many more would come; that he wanted the land marked out so that the Indians and the white man could be separated.”

— 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

“The first white men of your people who came to our country were named Lewis and Clark. They brought many things that our people had never seen. They talked straight. These men were very kind.”

— Chief Joseph

“We gathered all the stock we could find, and made an attempt to move. We left many of our horses and cattle in Wallowa. We lost several hundred in crossing the river.”

— Chief Joseph