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
