“How can you buy or sell the sky?
The land?
The idea is strange to us.
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…
If we sell you our land, remember that the air is precious to us that the air shares its spirit with all the life that it supports. …
Teach your children what we have taught our children–that the earth is our mother.
Whatever befalls the earth befalls the sons and daughters of the earth. If men spit upon the ground, they spit upon themselves.
This we know.
The earth does not belong to us; we belong to the earth.
This we know.
All things are connected like the blood which unites one family.
All things are connected.
Whatever befalls the earth befalls the sons and daughters of the earth.
We did not weave the web of life; we are merely a strand in it.
Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves…
(chief seattle 1890's)
Tags: chief, indian, native, seattle, wise, words
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