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George Washington Quotations
These George Washington Quotations will let you see into the mind of
this great Revolutionary War Hero. These inspirational quotes are from
his own letters, diaries and speeches. These George Washington Quotations
are 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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Read some George Washington Quotations
"Against the insidious wiles of foreign influence, (I conjure you to believe
me fellow citizens) the jealousy of a free people ought to be constantly awake;
since history and experience prove that foreign influence is one of the most
baneful foes of Republican Government." - Farewell Address, September 19,
1796
"Can it be, that Providence has not connected the permanent felicity of a
Nation with its virtue? The experiment, at least, is recommended by every
sentiment which ennobles human Nature." - Farewell Address, September
19, 1796
"Citizens by birth or choice of a common country, that country has a right
to concentrate your affections. The name of American, which belongs to you,
in your national capacity, must always exalt the just pride of Patriotism,
more than any appellation derived from local discriminations." - Farewell
Address, September 19, 1796
"Guard against the impostures of pretended patriotism." - Farewell
Address, September 19, 1796
"Harmony, liberal intercourse with all Nations, are recommended by policy,
humanity and interest. But even our Commercial policy should hold an equal
and impartial hand: neither seeking nor granting exclusive favours or
preferences; consulting the natural course of things; diffusing and
diversifying by gentle means the streams of Commerce, but forcing nothing;
establishing with Powers so disposed; in order to give trade a stable course."
- Farewell Address, September 19, 1796
"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
"Interwoven as is the love of liberty with every ligament of your hearts, no
recommendation of mine is necessary to fortify or confirm the attachment."
- Farewell Address, September 19, 1796
"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." - Farewell Address,
September 19, 1796
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"No taxes can be devised which are not more or less inconvenient and unpleasant."
- Farewell Address, September 19, 1796
"It is important, likewise, that the habits of thinking in a free country should
inspire caution in those entrusted with its administration, to confine themselves
within their respective constitutional spheres, avoiding in the exercise of the
powers of one department to encroach upon another. The spirit of encroachment
tends to consolidate the powers of all the departments in one, and thus to
create, whatever the form of government, a real despotism. A just estimate
of that love of power, and proneness to abuse it, which predominates in the
human heart, is sufficient to satisfy us of the truth of this position. The
necessity of reciprocal checks in the exercise of political power, by dividing
and distributing it into different depositaries, and constituting each the
guardian of the public weal against invasions by the others, has been evinced
by experiments ancient and modern; some of them in our country and under our
own eyes. To preserve them must be as necessary as to institute them. If, in
the opinion of the people, the distribution or modification of the constitutional
powers be in any particular wrong, let it be corrected by an amendment in the way
which the Constitution designates. But let there be no change by usurpation; for
though this, in one instance, may be the instrument of good, it is the customary
weapon by which free governments are destroyed. The precedent must always greatly
overbalance in permanent evil any partial or transient benefit, which the use
can at any time yield." - Farewell Address, September 19, 1796
"The Constitution which at any time exists, 'till changed by an explicit and
authentic act of the whole People is sacredly obligatory upon all." - Farewell
Address, September 19, 1796
"The name of American, which belongs to you, in your national capacity, must
always exalt the just pride of Patriotism, more than any appellation derived
from local discriminations." - Farewell Address, September 19, 1796
"The spirit of encroachment tends to consolidate the powers of all the
departments in one, and thus to create whatever the form of government, a
real despotism. A just estimate of that love of power, and proneness to abuse
it, which predominates in the human heart is sufficient to satisfy us of the
truth of this position." - Farewell Address, September 19, 1796
"There can be no greater error than to expect, or calculate upon real favours
from Nation to Nation. 'Tis an illusion which experience must cure, which a just
pride ought to discard." - Farewell Address, September 19, 1796
"Tis 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
More George Washington Quotations for you!
"Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion
and morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man claim the tribute
of patriotism who should labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness,
these firmest props of the duties of man and citizens. The mere politician, equally
with the pious man, ought to respect and to cherish them. A volume could not trace
all their connexions with private and public felicity. Let it simply be asked, Where
is the security for property, for reputation, for life, if the sense of religious
obligation desert the oaths, which are the instruments of investigation in Courts
of Justice? And 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. 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. Who, that is a sincere friend to it, can look with indifference
upon attempts to shake the foundation of the fabric?" - Farewell Address,
September 19, 1796
"It is our true policy to steer clear of permanent alliance with any portion of the
foreign world." - Farewell Address, September 19, 1796
"'Tis folly in one Nation to look for disinterested favors from another; that it
must pay with a portion of its Independence for whatever it may accept under that
character; that by such acceptance, it may place itself in the condition of having
given equivalents for nominal favours and yet of being reproached with ingratitude
for not giving more. There can be no greater error than to expect, or calculate
upon real favours from Nation to Nation. 'Tis an illusion which experience must
cure, which a just pride ought to discard." - Farewell Address, September 19,
1796
"To the efficacy and permanency of your Union, a Government for the whole is
indispensable. No alliances, however strict, between the parts can be an adequate
substitute; they must inevitably experience the infractions and interruptions, which
all alliances in all times have experienced. Sensible of this momentous truth, you
have improved upon your first essay, by the adoption of a Constitution of Government
better calculated than your former for an intimate Union, and for the efficacious
management of your common concerns." - Farewell Address, September 19, 1796
"The basis of our political systems is the right of the people to make and to alter
their Constitutions of Government. But the Constitution which at any time exists,
till changed by an explicit and authentic act of the whole people, is sacredly
obligatory upon all. The very idea of the power and the right of the people to
establish Government presupposes the duty of every individual to obey the established
Government." - Farewell Address, September 19, 1796
"I have already intimated to you the danger of parties in the state, with particular
reference to the founding of them on geographical discriminations. Let me now take a
more comprehensive view, and warn you in the most solemn manner against the baneful
effects of the spirit of party, generally." - Farewell Address, September 19,
1796
"The alternate domination of one faction over another, sharpened by the spirit of
revenge, natural to party dissension, which in different ages and countries has
perpetrated the most horrid enormities, is itself a frightful despotism. But this
leads at length to a more formal and permanent despotism. The disorders and miseries,
which result, gradually incline the minds of men to seek security and repose in the
absolute power of an individual; and sooner or later the chief of some prevailing
faction, more able or more fortunate than his competitors, turns this disposition
to the purposes of his own elevation, on the ruins of Public Liberty." - Farewell
Address, September 19, 1796
"The common and continual mischiefs of the spirit of party are sufficient to make it
the interest and duty of a wise people to discourage and restrain it." - Farewell
Address, September 19, 1796
"It serves always to distract the Public Councils, and enfeeble the Public Administration.
It agitates the Community with ill-founded jealousies and false alarms; kindles the
animosity of one part against another, foments occasionally riot and insurrection."
- Farewell Address, September 19, 1796
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