If you tie up a horse to a stake, do you expect he will grow fat? If you pen an Indian… — Chief Joseph

If you tie up a horse to a stake, do you expect he will grow fat? If you pen an Indian up on a small spot of earth, and compel him to stay there, he will not be contented, nor will he grow and prosper. I have asked some of the great white chiefs where they get their authority to say the Indian that he shall stay in one place, while he sees white men going where they please. They can not tell me.

1879
★ 4.4
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Current citation
Chief Joseph. "An Indian's Views of Indian Affairs." Great Speeches by Native Americans, edited by Bob Blaisdell. Dover Publications, 2012.
Original citation
Chief Joseph. Speech in Lincoln Hall. 14 Jan. 1879, Lincoln Hall, Washington, DC, USA.

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