Top 100 George Washington Quotes
#1. But lest some unlucky event should happen unfavorable to my reputation, I beg it may be remembered by every gentleman in the room that I this day declare with the utmost sincerity, I do not think myself equal to the command I am honored with.
George Washington
#2. My mother was the most beautiful woman I ever saw. All I am I owe to my mother. I attribute my success in life to the moral, intellectual and physical education I received from her.
George Washington
#3. A passionate attachment of one nation for another produces a variety of evils
George Washington
#4. We should amuse our evening hours of life in cultivating the tender plants, and bringing them to perfection, before they are transplanted to a happier clime.
George Washington
#5. The Church says that the earth is flat, but I know that it is round, for I have seen the shadow on the moon, and I have more faith in a shadow than in the Church. Ferdinand Magellan, Portuguese and Spanish explorer
George Washington
#6. My manner of living is plain and I do not mean to be put out of it. A glass of wine and a bit of mutton are always ready.
George Washington
#7. There is no restraining men's tongues or pens when charged with a little vanity.
George Washington
#8. If we cannot learn wisdom from experience, it is hard to say where it is to be found.
George Washington
#9. Experience has taught us, that men will not adopt and carry into execution measures best calculated for their own good, without the intervention of a coercive power.
George Washington
#10. This would be the best of all possible worlds, if there were no religion in it. John Adams, U.S. President
George Washington
#11. Religious controversies are always productive of more acrimony and irreconcilable hatreds than those which spring from any other cause. I had hoped that liberal and enlightened thought would have reconciled the Christians so that their religious fights would not endanger the peace of Society.
George Washington
#13. One of the expedients of party to acquire influence, within particular districts, is to misrepresent the opinions and aims of other districts.
George Washington
#14. There is nothing that gives a man consequence, and renders him fit for command, like a support that renders him independent of everybody but the State he serves.
George Washington
#15. The Citizens of the United States of America have a right to applaud themselves for giving to Mankind examples of an enlarged and liberal policy: a policy worthy of imitation. All possess alike liberty of conscience and immunities of citizenship.
George Washington
#16. All see, and most admire, the glare which hovers round the external trappings of elevated office. To me there is nothing in it, beyond the lustre which may be reflected from its connection with a power of promoting human felicity.
George Washington
#18. To rectify past blunders is impossible, but we might profit by the experience of them.
George Washington
#19. Every action in company ought to be with some sign of respect to those present.
George Washington
#20. It exists under different shapes in all Governments ... but in those of the popular form it is seen in its greatest rankness and is truly their worst enemy.
George Washington
#21. Since the death of my father four years ago, our lives have become difficult, and I must help my family.
George Washington
#22. It is a much easier and less distressing thing to draw remonstrances in a comfortable room by a good fireside than to occupy a cold bleak hill and sleep under frost and snow without cloaths or blankets.
George Washington
#23. Give not advice without being asked, and when desired, do it briefly.
George Washington
#24. It follows then as certain as that night succeeds the day, that without a decisive naval force we can do nothing definitive, and with it, everything honorable and glorious.
George Washington
#25. Reason, too late perhaps, may convince you of the folly of misspending time.
George Washington
#26. In the present State of America, our welfare and prosperity depend upon the cultivation of our lands and turning the produce of them to the best advantage.
George Washington
#27. The signal instances of Providential goodness which we have experienced and which have now almost crowned our labors with complete success demand from us in a peculiar manner the warmest returns of gratitude and piety to the Supreme Author of all good.
George Washington
#28. 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
#30. The thinking part of mankind do not form their judgment from events; and their equity will ever attach equal glory to those actions which deserve success, and those which have been crowned with it.
George Washington
#31. Government is not reason; it is not eloquent; it is force. Like fire, it is a dangerous servant and a fearful master.
George Washington
#33. Where is the man to be found who wishes to remain indebted for the defense of his own person and property to the exertions, the bravery, and the blood of others, without making one generous effort to repay the debt of honor and gratitude?
George Washington
#34. You do well to wish to learn our arts and ways of life, and above all, the religion of Jesus Christ. These will make you a greater and happier people than you are. Congress will do every thing they can to assist you in this wise intention ...
George Washington
#35. Human rights can only be assured among a virtuous people. The general government ... can never be in danger of degenerating into a monarchy, an oligarchy, an aristocracy, or any despotic or oppresive form so long as there is any virtue in the body of the people.
George Washington
#36. If to please the people,we offer what we ourselves disapprove, how can we afterwards defend our work? Let us raise a standard to which the wise and honest can repair. The rest is in the hands of God.
George Washington
#37. Gentlemen, you will permit me to put on my spectacles, for, I have grown not only gray, but almost blind in the service of my country.
- March 15, 1783
George Washington
#38. The arrows of malevolence ... however barbed and well pointed, never can reach the most vulnerable part of me; though, whilst I am up as a mark, they will be continually aimed.
George Washington
#39. The great rule of conduct for us, in regard to foreign nations, is, in extending our commercial relations, to have with them as little political connection as possible.
George Washington
#40. We began a contest for liberty ill provided with the means for the war, relying on our patriotism to supply the deficiency. We expected to encounter many wants and distressed ... we must bear the present evils and fortitude ...
George Washington
#41. Extensive powers not exercised as far as was necessary have, I believe, scarcely ever failed to ruin the possessor.
George Washington
#42. I use no Porter ... in my family, but such as is made in America: both these articles may now be purchased of an excellent quality.
George Washington
#43. When any nation mistrusts it's citizens with guns, it's sending a clear message. It no longer trusts it's citizens because such a government has evil plans.
George Washington
#45. It is substantially true, that virtue or morality is a necessary spring of popular government. The rule, indeed, extends with more or less force to every species of free government.
George Washington
#46. If they are good workmen, they may be of Asia, Africa, or Europe. They may be Mohometans, Jews or Christians of any Sect, or they may be Atheists.
George Washington
#47. The basis of our political systems is the right of the people to make and to alter their Constitutions of Government.
George Washington
#48. Good company will always be found much less expensive than bad.
George Washington
#49. The value of liberty was thus enhanced in our estimation by the difficulty of its attainment, and the worth of characters appreciated by the trial of adversity.
George Washington
#50. Firearms are second only to the Constitution in importance; they are the peoples' liberty's teeth
George Washington
#51. There is nothing so likely to produce peace as to be well prepared to meet the enemy
George Washington
#52. I cannot conceive a rank more honorable, than that which flows from the uncorrupted choice of a brave and free people, the purest source and original fountain of all power.
George Washington
#53. There is a rank due to the United States among nations which will be withheld, if not absolutely lost, by the reputation of weakness.
George Washington
#54. Every day the increasing weight of years admonishes me more and more, that the shade of retirement is as necessary to me as it will be welcome.
George Washington
#55. Serious misfortunes, originating in misrepresentation, frequently flow and spread before they can be dissipated by truth.
George Washington
#57. Do not spare any reasonable expense to come at early and true information; always recollecting, and bearing in mind, that vague and uncertain accounts of things [are] ... more disturbing and dangerous than receiving none at all.
George Washington
#58. It is our boast, that a man's religious tenets will not forfeit the protection of the Laws ...
George Washington
#59. 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
#61. It is the child of avarice, the brother of iniquity, and the father of mischief.
George Washington
#62. No taxes can be devised which are not more or less inconvenient and unpleasant.
George Washington
#63. My manner of living is plain. I do not mean to be put out of it. A glass of wine and a bit of mutton are always ready; and such as will be content to partake of them are always welcome. Those, who expect more, will be disappointed, but no change will be effected by it.
George Washington
#64. It is ... [the citizens] choice, and depends upon their conduct, whether they will be respectable and prosperous, or contemptable and miserable as a Nation. This is the time of their political probation; this is the moment when the eyes of the World are turned upon them.
George Washington
#65. It's only natural for unbridled partisanship, unrestrained by allegiance to a greater cause, to lead to chaos.
George Washington
#66. [death] ... the abyss from where no traveler is permitted to return
George Washington
#67. True friendship is a plant of slow growth, and must undergo and withstand the shocks of adversity, before it is entitled to the appellation.
George Washington
#68. Men's minds are as variant as their faces. Where the motives of their actions are pure, the operation of the former is no more to be imputed to them as a crime, than the appearance of the latter; for both, being the work of nature, are alike unavoidable.
George Washington
#69. Now therefore I do recommend and assign Thursday the 26th day of November next to be devoted by the People of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be.
George Washington
#70. To secure respect to a neutral flag requires a naval force organized and ready to vindicate it from insult or aggression.
George Washington
#71. The preservation of the sacred fire of liberty, and the destiny of the Republican model of Government, are justly considered as deeply, perhaps as finally staked, on the experiment entrusted to the hands of the American people.
George Washington
#72. Observe good faith and justice toward all nations. Cultivate peace and harmony with all.
George Washington
#73. Do not suffer your good nature [ ... ] to say yes when you ought to say no; remember that it is a public not a private cause that is to be injured or benefitted by your choice
George Washington
#74. Conscience ... seldom comes to a man's aid while he is in the zenith of health and revelling in pomp and luxury upon illgotten spoils. It is generally the last act of his life, and it comes too late to be of much service to others here, or to himself hereafter.
George Washington
#75. Let us therefore animate and encourage each other, and show the whole world that a Freeman, contending for liberty on his own ground, is superior to any slavish mercenary on earth.
George Washington
#76. My own remedy is always to eat, just before I step into bed, a hot roasted onion, if I have a cold.
George Washington
#77. [Let] the poor the needy and oppressed of the Earth, and those who want Land, resort to the fertile lands of our western country, the second land of Promise, and there dwell in peace, fulfilling the first and great commandment.
George Washington
#78. The foundation of our national policy will be laid in the pure and immutable principle of private morality.
George Washington
#79. No morn ever dawned more favorable than ours did; and no day was every more clouded than the present! Wisdom, and good examples are necessary at this time to rescue the political machine from the impending storm.
George Washington
#80. Almighty and eternal Lord God, the great Creator of heaven and earth, and the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ; look down from heaven in pity and compassion upon me thy servant, who humbly prostrate myself before thee.
George Washington
#82. To anticipate & prevent disasterous contingencies would be the part of wisdom & patriotism.
George Washington
#83. The investigation of mathematical truths accustoms the mind to method and correctness in reasoning, and is an employment peculiarly worthy of rational beings.
George Washington
#84. I can never think of promoting my convenience at the expense of a friend's interest and inclination.
George Washington
#85. Why quit our own to stand upon foreign ground? Why, by interweaving our destiny with that of any part of Europe, entangle our peace and prosperity in the toils of European ambition ... or caprice?
George Washington
#86. Mankind, when left to themselves, are unfit for their own government.
George Washington
#87. Freemasonry is founded on the immutable laws of Truth and Justice and its grand object is to promote the happiness of the human race.
George Washington
#89. In executing the duties of my present important station, I can promise nothing but purity of intentions, and, in carrying these into effect, fidelity and diligence.
George Washington
#90. I am very glad to hear that the Gardener has saved so much of the St. foin seed, and that of the India Hemp. Make the most you can of both, by sowing them again in drills ... Let the ground be well prepared, and the Seed (St. loin) be sown in April. The Hemp may be sown any where.
George Washington
#91. What students would learn in American schools above all is the religion of Jesus Christ.
George Washington
#92. Take care of the waste on the farm and turn it into useful channels' should be the slogan of every farmer.
George Washington
#93. The best and only safe road to honor, glory, and true dignity is justice.
George Washington
#94. To speak evil of any one, unless there is unequivocal proofs of their deserving it, is an injury for which there is no adequate reparation.
George Washington
#95. The General hopes and trusts that every officer and man will endeavor to live and act as becomes a Christian soldier defending the dearest rights and liberties of his country.
George Washington
#96. Religion is a byproduct of fear. For much of human history, it may have been a necessary evil, but why was it more evil than necessary? Isn't killing people in the name of God a pretty good definition of insanity? Arthur C. Clarke, author
George Washington
#97. While we are zealously performing the duties of good citizens and soldiers, we certainly ought not to be inattentive to the higher duties of religion. To the distinguished character of Patriot, it should be our highest glory to add the more distinguished character of Christian.
George Washington
#98. The situation of the general government, if it can be called a government, is shaken to its foundation, and liable to be overturned by every blast.
George Washington
#100. Indians and wolves are both beasts of prey, tho' they differ in shape.
George Washington
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