Geronimo

I was born on the prairies where the wind blew free and there was nothing to break the light of the sun. I was born where there were no enclosures and everything drew a free breath. I want to die there and not within walls.

I have killed many; I have scalped many. I have captured women and children. I have done all that is bad. But I did it to defend my people.

I cannot think that we are useless. But we are not as useful as we might be.

We are vanishing from the earth, yet I cannot think we are useless.

I was a good horseman, and could shoot well with a rifle. I was a good hunter, and could always find game. I was a good warrior, and could always fight.

When a man is in the right, he need not be ashamed.

I cannot tell you how I felt when I learned that my mother, my wife, and my little children had been murdered.

The sun rises and shines for a time, and then it goes down. So it is with man.

I have always tried to live in peace. But the white man would not let me.

There was no time for grief. We had to go on.

I was told that the President of the United States had sent for me. I was glad to go.

The Apache is a child of the mountains. He loves the mountains. He lives in the mountains. He dies in the mountains.

I have been in many battles. I have seen many deaths. But I have never been afraid.

The white man's road is not our road.

I want to be free. I want to be left alone. I want to go back to my own country.

The white man has many books. But he does not know the wisdom of the earth.

I am a warrior. I have always been a warrior. I will always be a warrior.

The Great Spirit made us all. He made the white man and the red man. He gave us different ways. We should respect each other's ways.

I was content until I was betrayed.

The wind speaks to me. The trees speak to me. The birds speak to me. I understand them.