George Washington Quotes - Page 20

• There is an indissoluble union between a magnanimous policy and the solid rewards of public prosperity and felicity.

  George Washington

  Unions, Politics, Rewards

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• I am not only retired from all public employments, but I am retiring within myself, and shall be able to view the solitary walk and tread the paths of private life with heartfelt satisfaction.

  George Washington

  Views, Heartfelt, Employment

  George Washington (1839). “Life”, p.407

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• Patience is a noble virtue, and, when rightly exercised, does not fail of its reward.

  George Washington

  Doe, Noble, Rewards

  George Washington, John Clement Fitzpatrick, David Maydole Matteson (1784). “The Writings of George Washington from the Original Manuscript Sources, 1745-1799”, p.1

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• While I reiterate the professions of my dependence upon Heaven... I will observe that... no man who is profligate in his morals... can possibly be a true Christian.

  George Washington

  Christian, Men, Heaven

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• It is among the evils, and perhaps not the smallest, of democratical governments, that the people must feel before they will see. When this happens they are roused to action. Hence it is that those kinds of government are so slow.

  George Washington

  Government, People, Evil

  George Washington (1855). “Maxims of Washington: Political, Social, Moral, and Religious”, p.21

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• I am principled against this kind of traffic in the human species . . . and to disperse the families I have an aversion.

  George Washington

  Slavery, Aversion, Kind

  Jay A. Parry, Andrew M. Allison, George Washington (1991). “The real George Washington”, Natl Center for Constitutional

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• I assure you very explicitly, that in my opinion the conscientious scruples of all men should be treated with great delicacy and tenderness: and it is my wish and desire, that the laws may always be extensively accommodated to them, as a due regard for the protection and essential interests of the nation may justify and permit.

  George Washington

  Men, Law, Wish

  George Washington (1837). “Speeches and messages to Congress, proclamations, and addresses”, p.169

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• Letters of friendship require no study.

  George Washington

  Friendship, Letters, Study

  George Washington (1855). “Maxims of Washington: Political, Social, Moral, and Religious”, p.240

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• The best way to have peace is to always be prepared to fight a way.

  George Washington

  Fighting, Way, Be Prepared

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• Our country's honor calls upon us for a vigorous and manly exertion; and if we now shamefully fail, we shall become infamous to the whole world.

  George Washington

  Country, Failure, Honor

  George Washington (1840). “The Writings of George Washington: Being His Correspondence, Addresses, Messages, and Other Papers, Official and Private”, p.449

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• No pecuniary consideration is more urgent, than the regular redemption and discharge of the public debt: on none can delay be more injurious, or an economy of time more valuable. ... Cherish public credit. One method of preserving it is to use it as sparingly as possible: avoiding occasions of expence (and) avoiding likewise the accumulation of debt ... not ungenerously throwing upon posterity the burthen which we ourselves ought to bear.

  George Washington

  Use, Credit, Delay

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• One of George Washington's main concerns was to make sure that his soldiers had adequate supplies of meat: A part of the army has been a week without any kind of flesh, and the rest three or four days. Naked and starving as they are, we cannot enough admire the incomparable patience and fidelity of the soldiery, that they have not been ere this excited by their suffering to a general mutiny and dispersion.

  George Washington

  Kindness, Army, Soldier

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• I am just going. Have me decently buried; and do not let my body be put into the Vault in less than three days after I am dead.... Tis well.

  George Washington

  Three, Body, Vaults

  George Washington, Jared Sparks (1837). “The writings of George Washington: 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.559

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• I am persuaded, you will permit me to observe, that the path of true piety is so plain as to require but little political direction.

  George Washington

  Political, Littles, Path

  George Washington (1800). “Legacies of Washington: being a collection of the most approved writings of the late General Washington, with an appendix containing a sketch of the life of this illustrious patriot, &c. &c. (By J. M. Williams.) [With an engraved portrait.]”, p.222

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• Lenity will operate with greater force, in some instances, than rigor. It is, therefore, my first wish, to have my whole conduct distinguished by it.

  George Washington

  4th Of July, Wish, Firsts

  "Maxims of Washington: Political, Social, Moral and Religious".

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• Love is said to be an involuntary passion, and it is, therefore, contended that it cannot be resisted. This is true in part only, for like all things else, when nourished and supplied plentifully with ailment, it is rapid in its progress; but let these be withdrawn and it may be stifled in its birth or much stinted in its growth.

  George Washington

  Love, Passion, Growth

  Jay A. Parry, Andrew M. Allison, George Washington (1991). “The real George Washington”, Natl Center for Constitutional

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• If to be venerated for benevolence, if to be admired for talents, if to be esteemed for patriotism, if to be beloved for philanthropy, can gratify the human mind, you must have the pleasing consolation to know that you have not lived in vain. And I flatter myself that it will not be ranked among the least grateful occurrences of your life to be assured that, so long as I retain my memory, you will be thought on with respect, veneration, and affection by your sincere friend.

  George Washington

  Memories, Grateful, Long

  George Washington (1948). “Basic Writings of George Washington”

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• Your late purchase of an estate in the colony of Cayenne, with a view to emancipating the slaves on it, is a generous and noble proof of your humanity. Would to God a like spirit would diffuse itself generally into the minds of the people of this country; but I despair of seeing it.

  George Washington

  Country, Views, People

  George Washington, Jared Sparks (1835). “Writings: Being His Correspondence, Addresses, Messages, and Other Papers, Official and Private, Selected and Published from the Original Manuscripts”, p.163

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• Uniformity in the currency, weights, and measures of the United States is an object of great importance, and will, I am persuaded, be duly attended to.

  George Washington

  Science, Important, United States

  George Washington, Jared Sparks (1838). “The Writings of George Washington: Being His Correspondence, Addresses, Messages, and Other Papers, Official and Private”, p.9

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• When Men are irritated, and the Passions inflamed, they fly hastily and cheerfully to Arms; but after the first emotions are over, to expect, among such People, as compose the bulk of an Army, that they are influenced by any other principles than those of Interest, is to look for what never did, and I fear never will happen

  George Washington

  Passion, Army, Men

  George Washington, Jared Sparks (1839). “The Writings of George Washington: Being His Correspondence, Addresses, Messages, and Other Papers, Official and Private”, p.111

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• Went to church and fasted all day.

  George Washington

  Church

  George Washington, Jared Sparks (1834). “(v. 2) Comprising official letters relating to the French War, and private letters before the American Revolution”, p.486

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• Liberty is indeed little less than a name, where the Government is too feeble to withstand the enterprises of faction, to confine each member of society within the limits prescribed by the law, and to maintain all in the secure and tranquil enjoyme

  George Washington

  Government, Law, Names

  George Washington (1838). “Monuments of Washington's patriotism: containing a fac simile of his publick accounts kept during the revolutionary war; and some of the documents connected with his military command and civil administration; together with an eulogium on the character of Washington, by W. Jackson”, p.15

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• Unwilling am I, in the evening of a life nearly consumed in public cares, to quit a peaceful abode for an Ocean of difficulties

  George Washington

  Ocean, Peaceful, Care

  George Washington (1835). “The writings of George Washington: 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.488

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• When a man does all he can, though it succeeds not well, blame not him that did it.

  George Washington

  Men, Doe, Succeed

  George Washington, Jared Sparks (1834). “The Writings of George Washington: pt. I. Official letters relating to the French war, and private letters before the American revolution: March, 1754-May, 1775”, p.413

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• [Avoid] likewise the accumulation of debt.

  George Washington

  Debt, Accumulation, Debt By Founding Fathers

  George Washington, Andrew Jackson (1862). “Washington's Farewell Address: The Proclamation of Jackson Against Nullification, and the Declaration of Independence”, p.9

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