Chief Seattle was a Suquamish and Duwamish chief. A leading figure among his people, he pursued a path of accommodation to white settlers, forming a personal relationship with “Doc” Maynard. The city of Seattle, in the U.S. state of Washington, was named after him. Profoundly inspirational Chief Seattle quotes will make you look at life differently and help you live a meaningful life.
Famous Chief Seattle Quotes
The earth does not belong to us. We belong to the earth. Chief Seattle, The Chief Seattle’s Speech 1854
There is no death, only a change of worlds. Chief Seattle
To harm the earth is to heap contempt on its creator. Chief Seattle
All things share the same breath: the beast, the tree, the man the air shares its spirit with all the life it supports. Chief Seattle
Every part of the earth is sacred to my people. Chief Seattle
Humankind has not woven the web of life. We are but one thread within it. Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves. All things are bound together. All things connect. Chief Seattle
Teach your children what we have taught our children, that the earth is our mother. Whatever befalls the earth befalls the sons of the earth. If men spit upon the ground, they spit upon themselves. Chief Seattle
Take only memories, leave only footprints. Chief Seattle
Only when the last tree has died and the last river has been poisoned and the last fish has been caught will we realize that we can not eat money. Chief Seattle
We are part of the earth and it is part of us. The perfumes flowers are our sisters; the deer, the horse, the great eagle: these are our brothers. All things are connected like the blood which unites one’s family. Chief Seattle
All things share the same breath the beast, the tree, the man. The air shares its spirit with all the life it supports. Chief Seattle
Earth does not belong to us; we belong to earth. Take only memories, leave nothing but footprints. Chief Seattle
When the green hills are covered with talking wires and the wolves no longer sing, what good will money you paid for our land be then. Chief Seattle
If all the beasts were gone, men would die from a great loneliness of spirit, for whatever happens to the beasts also happens to the man. All things are connected. Whatever befalls the Earth befalls the sons of the Earth. Chief Seattle
How can you buy or sell the sky, the warmth of the land? The idea is strange to us. If we do not own the freshness of the air and sparkle of the water, how can you buy them? Chief Seattle
Man does not weave this web of life. He is merely a strand of it. Whatever he does to the web, he does to himself. Chief Seattle
We are part of the earth and it is part of us. The perfumed flowers are our sisters; the deer, the horse, the great eagle: these are our brothers. All things are connected like the blood which unites one’s family. Chief Seattle
The earth does not belong to man, man belongs to the earth. All things are connected like the blood that unites us all. Man did not weave the web of life, he is merely a strand in it. Whatever he does to the web, he does to himself. Chief Seattle
This we know, All things are connected.Chief Seattle
The earth does not belong to man, man belongs to the earth. All things are connected like the blood that unites us all. Man did not weave the web of life, he is merely a strand in it. Whatever he does to the web, he does to himself. Chief Seattle
When the earth is sick, the animals will begin to disappear, when that happens, the warriors of the rainbow will come to save them. Chief Seattle
We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children Chief Seattle
Like as a man who has been dying for many days, a man in your city is numb to the stench.Chief Seattle
Only when the last tree has died and the last river has been poisoned and the last fish has been caught will we realize that we can not eat money. Chief Seattle
There is no quiet place in the white man’s cities. No place to hear the unfurling of leaves in spring or the rustle of an insect’s wings. Chief Seattle
Humankind has not woven the web of life. We are but one thread within it. Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves. All things are bound together. All things connect. Chief Seattle
What is there to life if a man cannot hear the lonely cry of the whippoorwill or the arguments of the frogs around the pool at night. Chief Seattle
How can you buy or sell the sky, the warmth of the land? The idea is strange to us. If we do not own the freshness of the air and the sparkle of the water, how can you buy them? Every part of the Earth is sacred to my people, every shining pine needle, every sandy shore, every mist in the dark woods, every clear and humming insect is holy in the memory and experience of my people. Chief Seattle
The whites, too, shall pass -perhaps sooner than other tribes. Continue to contaminate your bed and you will one night suffocate in your own waste. Chief Seattle
The whites, too, shall pass perhaps sooner than other tribes. Continue to contaminate your bed and you will one night suffocate in your own waste. Chief Seattle
We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children. Chief Seattle
We are part of the earth and it is part of us. The perfumes flowers are our sisters; the deer, the horse, the great eagle: these are our brothers. All things are connected like the blood which unites one’s family. Chief Seattle
If all the beasts were gone, men would die from a great loneliness of spirit, for whatever happens to the beasts also happen to the man. All things are connected. Whatever befalls the earth befalls the sons of the earth. Chief Seattle
This We Know. All Things Are Connected.Chief Seattle
Humans merely share the earth. We can only protect the land, not own it. Chief Seattle
There is no such place as away. Chief Seattle
To us, the ashes of our ancestors are sacred and their resting place is hallowed ground. C.My words are like the stars that never change. Chief Seattle
All creation is one. What we do to one, we do to the entire web of life.Chief Seattle
The white man will never be alone. Let him be just, and deal kindly with my people. For the dead are not powerless. Chief Seattle, The Chief Seattle’s Speech
The earth is our mother. Whatever befalls the earth befalls the sons of earth. If men spit upon the ground, they spit upon themselves. Chief Seattle
Take nothing but memories, leave nothing but footprints. Chief Seattle
Contaminate your bed and you will one night suffocate in your own waste. Chief Seattle
Man did not weave the web of life, he is merely a strand in it. Whatever he does to the web, he does to himself. Chief Seattle
Humans merely share the Earth. We can only protect the land, not own it. Chief Seattle
Whatever Seattle says, the great chief at Washington can rely upon with as much certainty as he can upon the return of the sun or the seasons. Chief Seattle
How can you buy or sell the sky, the warmth of the land? The end of living and the beginning of survival. Chief Seattle
Let him be just and deal kindly with my people, for the dead are not powerless. Dead, did I say? There is no death. Only a change of worlds. Chief Seattle
How can you buy or sell the sky, the warmth of the land? The idea is strange to us. If we do not own the freshness of the air and the sparkle of the water, how can you buy them? Every part of the earth is sacred to my people. Chief Seattle
There is no such place as away. Chief Seattle
Our religion is the traditions of our ancestors, the dreams of our old men, given them in solemn hours of the night by the Great Spirit; and the visions of our sachems, and is written in the hearts of our people. Chief Seattle
The water’s murmur is the voice of my father’s father. Chief Seattle
We are part of the earth and it is part of us What befalls the earth befalls all the sons of the earth. Chief Seattle
Tribe follows tribe, nations follow nations like the tides of the sea. It is the order of nature, and regret is useless. Chief Seattle
Let him be just and deal kindly with my people, for the dead are not powerless. Dead, did I say? There is no death, only change of worlds. Chief Seattle
How can your God become our God and renew our prosperity and awaken in us dreams of returning greatness. Chief Seattle
The white man’s God cannot love our people or He would protect them. They seem to be orphans who can look nowhere for help. How then can we be brothers? Chief Seattle
Your religion was written on tablets of stone, ours on our hearts. Chief Seattle
What is there to life if a man cannot hear the lonely cry of the whippoorwill or the arguments of the frogs around the pool at night? Chief Seattle
Our God, the Great Spirit, seems also to have forsaken us. Your God makes your people wax stronger every day. Soon they will fill all the land. Chief Seattle
Your religion was written on tablets of stone, ours on our hearts. 8. We are part of the earth and the earth is part of us. Chief Seattle
I will not dwell on, nor mourn over, our untimely decay, nor reproach my paleface brothers with hastening it, as we too may have somewhat to blame. Chief Seattle
Take nothing but memories, leave nothing but footprints! Chief Seattle