Who said “You must teach your children that the ground beneath their feet is the ashes of your…”?

Misattributed

Not Chief Seattle. It's commonly credited to them, but the evidence shows it isn't theirs.

What the research foundListed as misattributed to Chief Seattle; no source in their known works.

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“You must teach your children that the ground beneath their feet is the ashes of your grandfathers. So that they will respect the land, tell your children that the earth is rich with the lives of our kin. 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
MisattributedListed as misattributed to Chief Seattle; no source in their known works. · evidenceWorld
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Cite this quote

APA

“You must teach your children that the ground beneath their feet is the ashes of your grandfathers. So that they will respect the land, tell your children that the earth is rich with the lives of our kin. 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.” [Quotation attributed to Chief Seattle]. (n.d.). Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/42686-you-must-teach-your-children-that-the-ground/

MLA

“You must teach your children that the ground beneath their feet is the ashes of your grandfathers. So that they will respect the land, tell your children that the earth is rich with the lives of our kin. 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.” Attributed to Chief Seattle. Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/42686-you-must-teach-your-children-that-the-ground/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Chicago

“You must teach your children that the ground beneath their feet is the ashes of your grandfathers. So that they will respect the land, tell your children that the earth is rich with the lives of our kin. 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.” Attributed to Chief Seattle. Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/42686-you-must-teach-your-children-that-the-ground/.

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