Patient with both friends and enemies, you accord with the way things are. Compassionate towards yourself, you reconcile all beings in the world. When they lose their sense of awe, people turn to religion. When they no longer trust themselves, they begin to depend on authority. Chief Seattle's Speech Yonder sky that has wept tears of compassion upon my people for centuries untold, and which to us appears changeless and eternal, may change.
Today is fair.
Tomorrow it may be overcast with clouds. My words are like the stars that never change. 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. The white chief says that Big Chief at Washington sends us greetings of friendship and goodwill. This is kind of him for we know he has little need of our friendship in return.