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Famous Quotes by George Washington
Read these Famous Quotes by George Washington from his own letters,
diaries and speeches. Learn the wisdom that made this American Patriot such
a hero. Each of these Famous Quotes by George Washington is listed in
chronological order with links to more at the bottom of the page.
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George Washington
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For a list of interesting George Washington Facts,
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Famous Quotes by George Washington
"Let us with caution indulge the supposition, that morality can be maintained
without religion. Whatever may be conceded to the influence of refined education
on minds of peculiar structure, reason and experience both forbid us to expect,
that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle."
- Farewell Address, September 19, 1796
"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." - Farewell Address, September 19, 1796
"Promote, then, as an object of primary importance, institutions for the
general diffusion of knowledge. In proportion as the structure of a government
gives force to public opinion, it is essential that public opinion should be
enlightened." - Farewell Address, September 19, 1796
"As a very important source of strength and security, cherish public credit.
One method of preserving it is, to use it as sparingly as possible; avoiding
occasions of expense by cultivating peace, but remembering also that timely
disbursements to prepare for danger frequently prevent much greater disbursements
to repel it; avoiding likewise the accumulation of debt, not only by shunning
occasions of expense, but by vigorous exertions in time of peace to discharge
the debts, which unavoidable wars may have occasioned, not ungenerously throwing
upon posterity the burthen, which we ourselves ought to bear." - Farewell
Address, September 19, 1796
"Observe good faith and justice towards all Nations; cultivate peace and harmony
with all. Religion and Morality enjoin this conduct; and can it be, that good
policy does not equally enjoin it? It will be worthy of a free, enlightened,
and, at no distant period, a great Nation, to give to mankind the magnanimous
and too novel example of a people always guided by an exalted justice and
benevolence. Who can doubt, that, in the course of time and things, the
fruits of such a plan would richly repay any temporary advantages, which
might be lost by a steady adherence to it? Can it be, that Providence has
not connected the permanent felicity of a Nation with its Virtue?" - Farewell
Address, September 19, 1796
"Nothing is more essential, than that permanent, inveterate antipathies against
particular Nations, and passionate attachments for others, should be excluded;
and that, in place of them, just and amicable feelings towards all should be
cultivated. The Nation, which indulges towards another an habitual hatred, or
an habitual fondness, is in some degree a slave. It is a slave to its animosity
or to its affection, either of which is sufficient to lead it astray from its
duty and its interest. Antipathy in one nation against another disposes each
more readily to offer insult and injury, to lay hold of slight causes of umbrage,
and to be haughty and intractable, when accidental or trifling occasions of dispute
occur. Hence frequent collisions, obstinate, envenomed, and bloody contests."
- Farewell Address, September 19, 1796
"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 connexion as possible.
So far as we have already formed engagements, let them be fulfilled with perfect
good faith. Here let us stop." - Farewell Address, September 19, 1796
"Tis our true policy to steer clear of permanent alliances with any portion of
the foreign world; so far, I mean, as we are now at liberty to do it; for let me
not be understood as capable of patronizing infidelity to existing engagements.
I hold the maxim no less applicable to public than to private affairs, that
honesty is always the best policy. I repeat it, therefore, let those engagements
be observed in their genuine sense. But, in my opinion, it is unnecessary and
would be unwise to extend them." - Farewell Address, September 19, 1796
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"The duty of holding a neutral conduct may be inferred, without any thing more,
from the obligation which justice and humanity impose on every nation, in cases
in which it is free to act, to maintain inviolate the relations of peace and amity
towards other nations." - Farewell Address, September 19, 1796
"Though, in reviewing the incidents of my administration, I am unconscious of
intentional error, I am nevertheless too sensible of my defects not to think it
probable that I may have committed many errors. Whatever they may be, I fervently
beseech the Almighty to avert or mitigate the evils to which they may tend. I
shall also carry with me the hope, that my Country will never cease to view them
with indulgence; and that, after forty-five years of my life dedicated to its
service with an upright zeal, the faults of incompetent abilities will be
consigned to oblivion, as myself must soon be to the mansions of rest."
- Farewell Address, September 19, 1796
"Light reading, by this, I mean books of little importance, may amuse for the
moment, but leaves nothing solid behind." - Letter to George Washington Parke
Custis, November 13, 1796
"Never let an indigent person ask, without receiving something, if you have
the means." - Letter to George Washington Parke Custis, November 13, 1796
"It is at all times more easy to make enemies than friends." - Letter to
George Washington Parke Custis, November 28, 1796
"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." - Letter to George
Washington Parke Custis, November 28, 1796
"To acknowledge the receipt of letters is always proper, to remove doubts of their
miscarriage." - Letter to George Washington Parke Custis, November 28, 1796
"You are now extending into that stage of life when good or bad habits are formed.
When the mind will be turned to things useful and praiseworthy, or to dissipation
and vice. Fix on whichever it may, it will stick by you; for you know it has been
said, and truly, "that as the twig is bent so it will grow." This, in a strong
point of view, shows the propriety of letting your inexperience be directed by
maturer advice, and in placing guard upon the avenues which lead to idleness and
vice. The latter will approach like a thief, working upon your passions: encouraged,
perhaps by bad examples: the propensity to which will increase in proportion to the
practice of it and your yielding. This admonition proceeds from the purest affection
for you: but I do not mean by it, that you are to become a stoic, or to deprive
yourself in the intervals of study of any recreations or manly exercise which
reason approves." - Letter to George Washington Parke Custis, November 28,
1796
More Famous Quotes by George Washington
"Select the most deserving only for your friendships, and before this becomes
intimate, weigh their dispositions and character well. True friendship is a plant
of slow growth; to be sincere, there must be a congeniality of temper and pursuits.
Virtue and vice can not be allied; nor can idleness and industry..." - Letter
to George Washington Parke Custis, November 28, 1796
"The assurances you give me of applying diligently to your studies, and fulfilling
those obligations which are enjoined by your Creator and due to his creatures, are
highly pleasing and satisfactory to me." - Letter to George Washington Parke
Custis, November 28, 1796
"In a republic, what species of knowledge can be equally important, and what duty
more pressing on its legislature, than to patronize a plan for communicating it to
those who are to be the future guardians of the liberties of the country?"
- Speech in the United States Congress, December 7, 1796
"The art of war is at once comprehensive and complicated... it demands much previous study
and... the possession of it, in its most improved and perfect state, is always a
great moment to the security of a nation. This, therefore, ought to be a serious
care of every government; and for this purpose, an academy, where a regular course
of instruction is given, is an obvious expedient, which different nations have
successfully employed." - Speech in the United States Congress, December 7,
1796
"The situation in which I now stand, for the last time, in the midst of the
Representatives of the People of the United States, naturally recalls the period
when the Administration of the present form of Government commenced; and I cannot
omit the occasion, to congratulate you and my Country, on the success of the
experiment; nor to repeat my fervent supplications to the Supreme Ruler of the
Universe, and Sovereign Arbiter of Nations, that his Providential care may still
be extended to the United States; that the virtue and happiness of the People,
may be preserved; and that the Government, which they have instituted, for the
protection of their liberties, may be perpetual." - Eighth Annual Message to
Congress, December 7, 1796
"It is with peculiar satisfaction I can say, that, prompted by a high sense of
duty in my attendance on public worship, I have been gratified, during my residence
among you, by the liberal and interesting discourses which have been delivered in
your Churches." - Letter to the United Episcopal Churches of Christ Church and
St. Peter's, March 2, 1797
"Believing as I do, that Religion and Morality are the essential pillars of civil
society, I view, with unspeakable pleasure, that harmony and brotherly love which
characterizes the Clergy of different denominations, as well in this, as in other
parts of the United States; exhibiting to the world a new and interesting spectacle,
at once the pride of our country and the surest basis of Universal Harmony."
- Letter to the Clergy of Philadelphia, March 3, 1797
"As for myself I am now seated in the shade of my Vine and Fig tree, and altho' I
look with regret on many transactions which do not comport with my ideas, I shall,
notwithstanding "view them in the calm lights of mild philosophy," persuaded, if
any great crisis should occur, to require it, that the good sense and Spirit of
the Major part of the people of this country, will direct them properly."
- Letter to Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, June 24, 1797
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