20 Sitting Bull Quotes from the Famous Native American Chief

Sitting Bull Quotes from the man that will be forever famous for defeating General Custer.

He is famously known as the Native American chief who rallied the Sioux tribes to defeat General Custer at what has since become known as Custer’s Last Stand.

Sitting Bull distrusted white men and did not want to agree to the treaties the United States government tried to make with the Native American tribes.

So, as the government continued to go back against their word, Sitting Bull united the tribes and led them to victory in the 1876 Battle of Little Bighorn.

Afterward, he continued to lead his people to Canada, where they could be safe and out of reach, before turning himself in.

To learn more about this famous leader check out the collection of Sitting Bull quotes below.

Check out our most popular quote article, a list of short inspirational quotes for daily inspiration.

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Sitting Bull quotes on the difficulty of losing native American land

Not only did the Native Americans lose their land, they also lost many of their ways of life. Check out the quotes from Sitting Bull about these difficulties.

1. “I was very sorry when I found out that your intentions were good and not what I supposed they were.” ― Sitting Bull

You will also enjoy our article on Native American quotes.

2. “What treaty that the whites have kept has the red man broken? Not one.” ― Sitting Bull

3. “Only seven years ago, we made a treaty by which we were assured that the buffalo country should be left to us forever. Now they threaten to take that from us also.” ― Sitting Bull

4. “Now that we are poor, we are free. No white man controls our footsteps.” ― Sitting Bull

5. “What white man can say I never stole his land or a penny of his money? Yet they say that I am a thief.” ― Sitting Bull

6. “If a man loses anything and goes back and looks carefully for it, he will find it.” ― Sitting Bull

7. “The white men, who belong to another land, have come upon us and are forcing is to live according to their ideas. That is an injustice. We have never dreamed of making white men live as we live.” ― Sitting Bull

8. “A warrior I have been. Now it is all over. A hard time I have.” ― Sitting Bull

9. “They want us to give up another chunk of our tribal land. This is not the first time or the last time.” ― Sitting Bull

10. “Let us put our minds together and see what life we can make for our children.” ― Sitting Bull

Wise Sitting Bull quotes

Sitting Bull was a wise and powerful leader for his people. Take a look below to see some of the wisdom Sitting Bull left us.

11. “In my early days, I was eager to learn and to do things, and therefore I learned quickly.” ― Sitting Bull

12. “It does not take many words to tell the truth.” ― Sitting Bull

13. “My people want to move their tepees here and there to different hunting grounds.” ― Sitting Bull

14. “If we must die, we die defending our rights.” ― Sitting Bull

15. “The land under my feet is mine again. I never sold it. I never gave it to anyone.” ― Sitting Bull

16. “I was born near where I stand.” ― Sitting Bull

17. “Hear me people: We have now to deal with another race – small and feeble when our fathers first met them, but now great and overbearing.” ― Sitting Bull

18. “As individual fingers, we can easily be broken, but all together we make a mighty fist.” ― Sitting Bull

19. “What treaty have the Sioux made with the white man that we have broken? Not one. What treaty have the white man ever made with us that they have kept? Not one.” ― Sitting Bull

20. “If a man loses anything and goes back and looks carefully for it, he will find it.” ― Sitting Bull

If you enjoy this article, check out our collection of Chief Seattle quotes on life from the famous Native American chief.

Sitting Bull lived a wild life

Once Sitting Bull was allowed to travel, he met Annie Oakley and eventually joined up with Buffalo Bill Cody’s Wild West Show.

Although this allowed him to ride in the show and sign autographs, some mocked him during the show.

When he was 54 years old, he left the show.

When the Ghost Dance Movement became popular, Indian police worried that Sitting Bull would become part of the movement and lead a rebellion against white people.

However, when they confronted him at his house, another person shot one of the Indian police, and Sitting Bull ended up being shot and killed.

Shortly after, the final battle occurred between the Sioux tribes and the federal troops, resulting in a massacre of the Sioux warriors involved in the fight.

The Sitting Bull quotes show that he was a man that loved his people and simply believed in fighting for their lifestyle.

Would you be brave enough to fight for something that was important to you?

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