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

Quote by Chief Joseph

Topics: Chief Joseph Quotes

You might as well expect rivers to run backwards as any man born free to...

You might as well expect rivers to run backwards as any man born free to...

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

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

We gave up some of our country to the white men, thinking that then we...

We gave up some of our country to the white men, thinking that then we...

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...

Good words will not give me back my children.

Good words will not give me back my children.

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...

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

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

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

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

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

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

I hope that no more groans of wounded men and women will ever go to...

I hope that no more groans of wounded men and women will ever go to...

I am tired of talk that comes to nothing.

I am tired of talk that comes to nothing.

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...

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

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

Words do not pay for my dead people.

Words do not pay for my dead people.

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...

We had a great many horses, of which we gave Lewis and Clark what they...

We had a great many horses, of which we gave Lewis and Clark what they...

It does not require many words to speak the truth.

It does not require many words to speak the truth.

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...

I will speak with a straight tongue.

I will speak with a straight tongue.

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...