George Washington Quotes - Page 14

• Excessive partiality for one foreign nation and excessive dislike of another cause those whom they actuate to see danger only on one side, and serve to veil and even second the arts of influence on the other. Real patriots who may resist the intrigues of the favorite are liable to become suspected and odious, while its tools and dupes usurp the applause and confidence of the people, to surrender their interests.

  George Washington

  Art, Real, People

  George Washington (1855). “Maxims of Washington: Political, Social, Moral and Religious”, p.90

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• Every post is honourable in which a man can serve his country.

  George Washington

  Country, War, Men

  George Washington, John Clement Fitzpatrick, David Maydole Matteson, United States George Washington Bicentennial Commission (1944). “The writings of George Washington from the original manuscript sources, 1745-1799: prepared under the direction of the United States George Washington bicentennial commission and published by authority of Congress”

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• We ought to deprecate the hazard attending ardent and susceptible minds, from being too strongly, and too early prepossessed in favor of other political systems, before they are capable of appreciating their own.

  George Washington

  Education, Appreciate, Political

  George Washington, Jared Sparks (1839). “The Writings of George Washington: Being His Correspondence, Addresses, Messages, and Other Papers, Official and Private, Selected and Published from the Original Manuscripts”, p.14

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• My fervent supplications to that Almighty Being who rules over the universe; who presides in the councils of nations; and whose providential aid can supply every human defect; that his benediction may consecrate to the liberties and happiness of the People of the United States, a Government instituted by themselves for these essential purposes, and may enable every instrument employed in its administration to execute with success the functions allotted to his charge. In tendering this homage to the Great Author of every public and private good.

  George Washington

  God, Government, People

  First Inaugural Address on April 30, 1789. "The Writings of George Washington", edited by John C. Fitzpatrick, Volume 30, pp. 292-293,

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• Happiness is more effectually dispensed to mankind under a republican form of government than any other.

  George Washington

  Government, Historical, Republican

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• I now make it my earnest prayer that God would have you and the State over which you preside in His holy protection; that He would most graciously be pleased to dispose us all to do justice, to love mercy, and to demean ourselves with that charity, humility, and pacific temper of mind which were the characteristics of the Divine Author of our blessed religion, without an humble imitation of whose example in these things, we can never hope to be a happy nation.

  George Washington

  Prayer, Blessed, Humble

  Circular Letter to the Governours of the several States, June 18, 1783.

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• At a distance from the theatre of action, truth is not always related without embellishment, and sometimes is entirely perverted, from a misconception of the causes which produce the effects that are the subjects of censure.

  George Washington

  Truth, Distance, Action

  "The Writings of George Washington: Being His Correspondence, Addresses, Messages, and Other Papers, Official and Private".

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• It is our boast, that a man's religious tenets will not forfeit the protection of the Laws.

  George Washington

  Religious, Men, Law

  George Washington (1855). “Maxims of Washington: Political, Social, Moral, and Religious”, p.372

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• A small knowledge of human nature will convince us, that, with far the greatest part of mankind, interest is the governing principle... Few men are capable of making a continual sacrifice of all views of private interest, or advantage, to the common good. It is vain to exclaim against the depravity of human nature on this account; the fact is so, the experience of every age and nation has proved it and we must in a great measure, change the constitution of man, before we can make it otherwise. No institution, not built on the presumptive truth of these maxims can succeed.

  George Washington

  Sacrifice, Men, Views

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• The Hand of providence has been so conspicuous in all this, that he must be worse than an infidel that lacks faith, and more than wicked, that has not gratitude enough to acknowledge his obligations.

  George Washington

  Gratitude, Hands, Religion

  George Washington (1858). “The Writings: Being His Correspondence, Addresses, Messages, and Other Papers, Official and Private, Selected and Published from the Original Manuscripts : with a Life of the Author, Notes and Illustrations”, p.36

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• No Man has a more perfect reliance on the all-wise and powerful dispensations of the Supreme Being than I have, nor thinks his aid more necessary...The man must be bad indeed who can look upon the events of the American Revolution without feeling the warmest gratitude towards the great Author of the Universe whose divine interposition was so frequently manifested in our behalf....In war He directed the sword, and in peace, He has ruled in our councils.

  George Washington

  Wise, Gratitude, Powerful

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• Democratical States must always feel before they can see: it is this that makes their Governments slow, but the people will be right at last.

  George Washington

  Government, People, Lasts

  George Washington, Stephen Lucas (1999). “The Quotable George Washington: The Wisdom of an American Patriot”, p.22, Rowman & Littlefield

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• Let me ... warn you in the most solemn manner against the baneful effects of the spirit of party.

  George Washington

  Party, Spirit, Voting Founding Fathers

  George Washington, Andrew Jackson (1862). “Washington's Farewell Address: The Proclamation of Jackson Against Nullification, and the Declaration of Independence”, p.7

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• Can it be that Providence has not connected the permanent felicity of a nation with its virtue?

  George Washington

  Liberty, Virtue, Providence

  George Washington, John Jay, Jared Sparks (1850). “Washington's Farewell Address to the People of the United States of America”, p.38, New York : J. Wiley

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• Nothing is too extravagant to expect from men who conceive they are ungratefully and unjustly dealt by.

  George Washington

  Men, Injustice, Extravagant

  George Washington (1908). “Letters and Addresses,”

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• In general I esteem it a good maxim, that the best way to preserve the confidence of the people durably is to promote their true interest

  George Washington

  People, Way, Interest

  George Washington (1855). “Maxims of Washington: Political, Social, Moral, and Religious”, p.71

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• I hate deception, even where the imagination only is concerned.

  George Washington

  Hate, Lying, Imagination

  George Washington (1855). “Maxims of Washington: Political, Social, Moral, and Religious”, p.311

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• It is an old adage that honesty is the best policy-this applies to public as well as private life-to States as well as individuals.

  George Washington

  Leadership, Honesty, Individual

  George Washington, Jared Sparks (1847). “pt. III. Private letters from the time Washington resigned his commission as commander-in-chief of the Army to that of his inauguration as president of the United States: December, 1783-April, 1789”, p.146

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• Interwoven is the love of liberty with every ligament of the heart.

  George Washington

  Love, Heart, Liberty

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• It is on great occasions only, and after time has been given for cool and deliberate reflection, that the real voice of the people can be known.

  George Washington

  Real, Reflection, Voice

  George Washington, Jared Sparks (1838). “The writings of George Washington”, p.122

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• This spirit [of Party], unfortunately, is inseperable from our nature, having its root in the strongest passions of the human Mind. It exists under different shapes in all Governments, more or less stifled, controuled, or repressed; but, in those of the popular form it is seen in its greatest rankness and is truly their worst enemy.

  George Washington

  Government, Worst Enemy, Different

  George Washington’s "Farewell Address", oll.libertyfund.org. September 19, 1796.

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• The most certain way to make a man your enemy is to tell him you esteem him such.

  George Washington

  Men, Enemy, Way

  George Washington, David Maydole Matteson, United States George Washington Bicentennial Commission (1778). “The writings of George Washington from the original manuscript sources, 1745-1799”, p.291

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• The Independence and Liberty you possess are the work of joint councils and joint efforts, of common dangers, sufferings and successes.

  George Washington

  Effort, Presidential, Independence

  "The Patriot's Monitor: Or, Speeches and Addresses of the Late George Washington".

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• And you will, by the dignity of your Conduct, afford occasion for Posterity to say, when speaking of the glorious example you have exhibited to Mankind, had this day been wanting, the World had never seen the last stage of perfection to which human nature is capable of attaining.

  George Washington

  Perfection, World, Lasts

  George Washington, Jared Sparks (1840). “The Writings of George Washington: Being His Correspondence, Addresses, Messages, and Other Papers, Official and Private”, p.563

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• I shall not be deprived ... of a comfort in the worst event, if I retain a consciousness of having acted to the best of my judgment.

  George Washington

  Integrity, Comfort, Events

  George Washington, John Clement Fitzpatrick, David Maydole Matteson, United States George Washington Bicentennial Commission (1944). “The writings of George Washington from the original manuscript sources, 1745-1799: prepared under the direction of the United States George Washington bicentennial commission and published by authority of Congress”

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