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

Quote by Chief Joseph

Topics: Chief Joseph Quotes

I will speak with a straight tongue.

I will speak with a straight tongue.

We did not know there were other people besides the Indian until about one hundred...

We did not know there were other people besides the Indian until about one hundred...

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

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

I would give up everything rather than have the blood of white men upon the...

I would give up everything rather than have the blood of white men upon the...

For a short time we lived quietly. But this could not last. White men had...

For a short time we lived quietly. But this could not last. White men had...

We had good white friends who advised us against taking the war path. My friend...

We had good white friends who advised us against taking the war path. My friend...

I would have given my own life if I could have undone the killing of...

I would have given my own life if I could have undone the killing of...

I labored hard to avoid trouble and bloodshed.

I labored hard to avoid trouble and bloodshed.

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

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

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

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

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

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

I pressed my father's hand and told him I would protect his grave with my...

I pressed my father's hand and told him I would protect his grave with my...

When an Indian fights, he only shoots to kill.

When an Indian fights, he only shoots to kill.

Governor Isaac Stevens of the Washington Territory said there were a great many white people...

Governor Isaac Stevens of the Washington Territory said there were a great many white people...

I saw clearly that war was upon us when I learned that my young men...

I saw clearly that war was upon us when I learned that my young men...

We ask to be recognized as men.

We ask to be recognized as men.

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

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

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

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

General Howard informed me, in a haughty spirit, that he would give my people 30...

General Howard informed me, in a haughty spirit, that he would give my people 30...

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

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