"So live your life that the fear of death can never enter your heart.
Trouble no one about their religion; respect others in their view, and
demand that they respect yours. Love your life, perfect your life,
beautify all things in your life. Seek to make your life long and
its purpose in the service of your people. Prepare a noble death song
for the day when you go over the great divide. Always give a word or a
sign of salute when meeting or passing a friend, even a stranger, when
in a lonely place. Show respect to all people and grovel to none.
When you arise in the morning give thanks for the food and for the joy
of living. If you see no reason for giving thanks, the fault lies only
in yourself. Abuse no one and no thing, for abuse turns the wise ones to
fools and robs the spirit of its vision. When it comes your time to
die, be not like those whose hearts are filled with the fear of death,
so that when their time comes they weep and pray for a little more time
to live their lives over again in a different way. Sing your death song
and die like a hero going home."
--Chief Tecumseh of the Shawnee
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