Great Throughts Treasury
This site is dedicated to the memory of Dr. Alan William Smolowe who gave birth to the creation of this database.
Sitting Bull, aka Tȟatȟáŋka Íyotake, born Hoka Psice NULL
Hunkpapa Lakota Sioux Chief and Holy Man who had premonition of defeating the cavalry which motivated his people to a major victory at the Battle of the Little Bighorn
"We are an island of Indians in a lake of whites. We must stand together, or they will rub us out separately. These soldiers have come shooting; they want war. All right, we?ll give it to them!"
"What treaties that the whites have kept, that the red man broken? Not one. What treaties that the white man gave to us they kept? Not one."
"Wakan Tanka, pity me. In the name of the nation, I offer You this pipe. Wherever the Sun, Moon, Earth, Four Winds, there You are always. Tuncosila, save the people, I beg You. We wish to live. Guard us against all misfortunes and calamities. Take pity."
"We have plenty of game. We want no white men here. The Black Hills belong to me. If the whites try to take them, I will fight."
"What white man can say I never stole his land or a penny of his money? Yet they say that I am a thief. What white woman, however lonely, was ever captive or insulted by me? Yet they say I am a bad Indian."
"You come here to tell us lies, but we don't want to hear them. If we told you more, you would have paid no attention. That is all I have to say."
"When I was a boy, the Sioux owned the world. The sun rose and set on their land; they sent ten thousand men to battle. Where are the warriors today? Who slew them? Where are our lands? Who owns them?"
"You think I am a fool, but you are a greater fool than I am."
"What white woman, however lonely, was ever captive or insulted by me? Yet they say I am a bad Indian."
"What white man has ever seen me drunk? Who has ever come to me hungry and left me unfed? Who has seen me beat my wives or abuse my children? What law have I broken?"