“Stations were built at intervals averaging fifteen miles apart. A rider’s route covered three stations, with an exchange of horses at each, so that he was expected at the beginning to cover close to forty-five miles – a good ride when one must average fifteen miles an hour.”

I was persuaded now that I was destined to lead a life on the Plains.

I could never resist the call of the trail.

You who live your lives in cities or among peaceful ways cannot always tell whether your friends are the kind who would go through fire for you. But on the Plains one’s friends have an opportunity to prove their mettle.

It was because of my great interest in the West, and my belief that its development would be assisted by the interest I could awaken in others, that I decided to bring the West to the East through the medium of the Wild West Show.

I thought I was benefiting the Indians as well as the government, by taking them all over the United States, and giving them a correct idea of the customs, life, etc., of the pale faces, so that when they returned to their people they could make known all they had seen.

The Indians were well mounted and felt proud and elated because they had been made United States soldiers.

Major North and myself went out in advance of the command several miles and killed a number of buffaloes.

We had avoided discovery by the Sioux scouts, and we were confident of giving them a complete surprise.

The greatest of all the Sioux in my time, or in any time for that matter, was that wonderful old fighting man, Sitting Bull, whose life will some day be written by a historian who can really give him his due.

General Custer was a close observer and student of personal character.

Excitement was plentiful during my two years’ service as a Pony Express rider.

Having secured my Indian actors, I started for Baltimore, where I organized my combination, and which was the largest troupe I had yet had on the road.

My debut upon the world’s stage occurred on February 26th, 1845.

As a good horse is not very apt to jump over a bank, if left to guide himself, I let mine pick his own way.

I found Spotted Tail’s lodge. He invited me to enter.

Frontiersmen good and bad, gunmen as well as inspired prophets of the future, have been my camp companions. Thus, I know the country of which I am about to write as few men now living have known it.

Hope of ill gain is the beginning of loss.

My freedom doesn’t end where your fear begins.

I always felt like there was a certain standard of music that I had to do from the beginning, even when I didn’t have the recognition that I have now.

The boundaries which divide Life from Death are at best shadowy and vague. Who shall say where the one ends, and where the other begins?

Enlightenment will be now the beginning, not the end. Beginning of a non-ending process in all dimensions of richness.

If, then, my awareness of the past and future makes me less aware of the present, I must begin to wonder whether I am actually living in the real world.

Excellence does not begin in Washington.

Our success has really been based on partnerships from the very beginning.