|
Find a George Washington Quote
Find the George Washington Quote you need from his own speeches, letters,
diaries and documents. Learn what
George Washington thought on the contemporary issues of his day. Each
George Washington Quote is listed in chronological order and there are links
to more at the bottom of the page.
|
George Washington
|
|
For a list of interesting George Washington Facts,
click here.
Read a George Washington Quote
"IT would be peculiarly improper to omit, in this first official act, my
fervent supplications to that Almighty Being who rules over the universe,
who presides in the councils of nations; and whose providential aids 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, I assure myself that it
expresses your sentiments not less than my own; nor those of my fellow-citizens
at large less than either. No people can be bound to acknowledge and adore
the invisible hand which conducts the affairs of men, more than the people
of the United States." - First Speech after election as President,
April 30, 1789
"I have often expressed my sentiments, that every man, conducting himself
as a good citizen, and being accountable to God alone for his religious
opinions, ought to be protected in worshipping the Deity according to the
dictates of his own conscience." - Letter to the General Committee of
the United Baptist Churches in Virginia, May, 1789
"May the same wonder-working Deity, who long since delivered the Hebrews
from their Egyptian oppressors, planted them in a promised land, whose
providential agency has lately been conspicuous in establishing these
United States as an independent nation, still continue to water them
with the dews of heaven and make the inhabitants of every denomination
participate in the temporal and spiritual blessings of that people whose
God is Jehovah." - Letter to the Hebrew Congregations of the City of
Savannah, Georgia, May, 1789
"After mentioning that I trust the people of every denomination, who
demean themselves as good citizens, you will have occasion to be convinced
that I shall always strive to prove a faithful and impartial Patron of
genuine, vital religion; I must assure you in particular that I take in the
kindest part the promise you make of presenting your prayers at the Throne
of Grace for me, and that I likewise implore the divine benedictions on
yourselves and your religious community." - Letter to Methodist Bishops,
May, 1789
"While I reiterate the professions of my dependence upon Heaven as the source
of all public and private blessings; I will observe that the general prevalence
of piety, philanthropy, honesty, industry, and economy seems, in the ordinary
course of human affairs, particularly necessary for advancing and conforming
the happiness of our country. While all men within our territories are protected
in worshipping the Deity according to the dictates of their consciences; it is
rationally to be expected from them in return, that they will be emulous of
evincing the sanctity of their professions by the innocence of their lives
and the beneficence of their actions; for no man, who is profligate in his
morals, or a bad member of the civil community, can possibly be a true
Christian, or a credit to his own religious society." -Letter to the
Presbyterian General Assembly, May, 1789
"My dear Sir: I cannot fail of being much pleased with the friendly part you
take in every thing which concerns me; and particularly with the just scale
on which you estimate this last great sacrifice which I consider myself as
having made for the good of my Country. When I had judged, upon the best
appreciation I was able to form of the circumstances which related to myself,
that it was my duty to embark again on the tempestuous and uncertain Ocean of
public life, I gave up all expectations of private happiness in this world.
You know, my dear Sir, I had concentered all my schemes, all my views, all
my wishes, within the narrow circle of domestic enjoyment. Though I flatter
myself the world will do me the justice to believe, that, at my time of life
and in my circumstances, nothing but a conviction of duty could have induced
me to depart from my resolution of remaining in retirement; yet I greatly
apprehend that my Countrymen will expect too much from me. I fear, if the
issue of public measures should not correspond with their sanguine expectations,
they will turn the extravagant (and I may say undue) praises which they are heaping
upon me at this moment, into equally extravagant (though I will fondly hope unmerited)
censures. So much is expected, so many untoward circumstances may intervene, in
such a new and critical situation, that I feel an insuperable diffidence in my
own abilities. I feel, in the execution of the duties of my arduous Office, how
much I shall stand in need of the countenance and aid of every friend to myself,
of every friend to the Revolution, and of every lover of good Government."
- Letter to Edward Rutledge, May 5, 1789
Looking for another
George Washington Quote?
George
Washington
"The good dispositions which seem at present to pervade every class of people afford
reason for your observation that the clouds which have long darkened our political
hemisphere are now dispersing, and that America will soon feel the effects of her
natural advantages. That invisible hand which has so often interposed to save our
Country from impending destruction, seems in no instance to have been more remarkably
excited than in that of disposing the people of this extensive Continent to adopt,
in a peaceable manner, a Constitution, which if well administered, bids fair to
make America a happy nation." - Letter to Philip Schuyler, May 9, 1789
"If I could have entertained the slightest apprehension that the Constitution framed
by the convention where I had the honor to preside might possibly endanger the religious
rights of any ecclesiastical society certainly I would never have placed my signature
to it: and if I could now conceive that the general government might ever be so
administered as to render the liberty of conscience insecure, I beg you will be
persuaded that no one would be more zealous than myself to establish effectual
barriers against the horrors of spiritual tyranny and every species of religious
persecution." - Address to the General Committee of the United Baptist Churches
of Virginia, May 10, 1789
"It shall still be my endeavor to manifest, by overt acts, the purity of my inclination
for promoting the happiness of mankind, as well as the sincerity of my desires to
contribute whatever may be in my power towards the preservation of the civil and
religious liberties of the American People." - Letter to the Methodist Episcopal
Church, May 29, 1789
"I am happy in concurring with you in the sentiments of gratitude and piety towards
Almighty-God, which are expressed with such fervency of devotion in your address;
Congregations in the United States a conduct correspondent to such worthy and pious
expressions." - Letter to the German Reformed Congregations, June, 1789
"I know the delicate nature of the duties incident to the part which I am called
to perform, and I feel my incompetence, without the singular assistance of
Providence, to discharge them in a satisfactory manner. But having undertaken
the task from a sense of duty, no fear of encountering difficulties, and no
dread of losing popularity, shall ever deter me from pursuing what I conceive
to be the true interests of my country." - Letter to the Citizens of Baltimore,
June, 1789
How about another George Washington Quote?
"In proportion as the general Government of the United States shall acquire strength
by duration, it is probable they may have it in their power to extend a salutary
influence to the Aborigines in the extremities of their Territory. In the meantime,
it will be a desirable thing for the protection of the Union to Cooperate, as far
as the circumstances may conveniently admit, with the disinterested endeavors of
your Society to civilize and Christianize the Savages of the Wilderness."
- Letter to the Directors of the Society of the United Brethren for Propagating
the Gospel among the Heathen, July, 1789
"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." - Message to U. S. Congress, July 9, 1789
"It would ill become me to conceal the joy I have felt in perceiving the fraternal
affection, which appears to increase every day among the friends of genuine religion.
It affords edifying prospects indeed, to see Christians of different denominations,
dwell together in more charity and conduct themselves in respect to each other,
with a more Christian-like spirit than ever they have done in any former age, or
in any other Nation." - Letter to General Convention of Bishops of the Protestant
Episcopal Church, August 18, 1789
"It should be the highest ambition of every American to extend his views beyond
himself, and to bear in mind that his conduct will not only affect himself, his
country, and his immediate posterity; but that its influence may be co-extensive
with the world, and stamp political happiness or misery on ages yet unborn."
- Letter to the Legislature of Pennsylvania, September 5, 1789
"The liberty enjoyed by the People of these states of worshiping Almighty God
agreeably to their conscience, is not only among the choicest of their blessings,
but also of their rights. While men perform their social duties faithfully,
they do all that society or the state can with propriety demand or expect; and
remain responsible only to their Maker for the religion, or modes of faith
which they may prefer or profess." - Address to the Quakers, October,
1789
"WHEREAS it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of
Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly
to implore His protection and favour; and Whereas both Houses of Congress
have, by their joint committee, requested me "to recommend to the people
of the United States a DAY OF PUBLICK THANSGIVING and PRAYER, to be
observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal
favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity
peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness:
NOW THEREFORE, I do recommend and assign THURSDAY, the TWENTY-SIXTH 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; that we may then all unite in
rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and
protection of the people of his country previous to their becoming a nation;
for the signal and manifold mercies and the favorable interpositions of His
providence in the course and conclusion of the late war; for the great
degree of tranquility, union, and plenty which we have since enjoyed; --
for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been enable to
establish Constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and
particularly the national one now lately instituted; -- for the civil and
religious liberty with which we are blessed, and the means we have of
acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; -- and, in general, for all
the great and various favours which He has been pleased to confer upon us.
And also, that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and
supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech Him to
pardon our national and other transgressions; -- to enable us all,
whether in publick or private stations, to perform our several and
relative duties properly and punctually; to render our National Government
a blessing to all the people by constantly being a Government of wife,
just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and
obeyed; to protect and guide all sovereigns and nations (especially
such as have shews kindness unto us); and to bless them with good
governments, peace, and concord; to promote the knowledge and practice
of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and
us; and, generally to grant unto all mankind such a degree of temporal
prosperity as he alone knows to be best. GIVEN under my hand, at the
city of New-York, the third day of October, in the year of our Lord,
one thousand seven hundred and eighty-nine." - First Thanksgiving
Proclamation, October 3, 1789
Another George Washington Quote for you!
"While just government protects all in their religious rights, true
religion affords to government its surest support." - Address to the
Synod of the Dutch Reformed Church in North America, October 9, 1789
"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. To this consideration
we ought to ascribe the absence of any regulation, respecting religion, from
the Magna-Charta of our country. To the guidance of the ministers of the
gospel, this important object is, perhaps, more properly committed. It
will be your care to instruct the ignorant, and to reclaim the devious,
and, in the progress of morality and science, to which our government will
give every furtherance, we may confidently expect the advancement of true
religion, and the completion of our happiness." - Letter to Presbyterian
Church leaders, October 23, 1789
"Your love of liberty - your respect for the laws - your habits of industry -
and your practice of the moral and religious obligations, are the strongest
claims to national and individual happiness." - Letter to the Residents
of Boston, October 27, 1789
"Awful and affecting as the death of a parent is, there is consolation in
knowing, that heaven has spared ours to an age beyond which few attain,
and favored her with the full enjoyment of her mental faculties, and as
much bodily strength as usually falls to the lot of four score. Under these
considerations, and a hope that she is translated to a happier place, it
is the duty of her relatives to yield due submission to the decrees of the
Creator. When I was last at Fredericksburg, I took a final leave of my
mother never expecting to see her more." - Letter to Betty Lewis, his
sister, on the death of their mother, September 13, 1789
"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." - Letter to the People of South Carolina, 1790
"Knowledge is, in every country, the surest basis of public happiness."
- First Annual Message, January 8, 1790
"To be prepared for war is one of the most effectual means of preserving
peace." - First Annual Address to Congress, January 8, 1790
If you're looking for another George Washington Quote
check
out the pages below
Go to George Washington Quote page 1
Go to George Washington Quote page 2
Go to George Washington Quote page 3
Go to George Washington Quote page 4
Go to George Washington Quote page 5
Go to George Washington Quote page 6
Go to George Washington Quote page 7
Go to George Washington Quote page 8
Go to George Washington Quote page 9
Go to George Washington Quote page 10
Go to George Washington Quote page 11
Go to George Washington Quote page 12
Go to George Washington Quote page 14
Go to George Washington Quote page 15
Go to George Washington Quote page 16
Go to George Washington Quote page 17
Go to George Washington Quote page 18
Go to George Washington Quote page 19
Go to George Washington Quote page 20
If you enjoyed the George Washington Quote page, check out
these inspirational quotes from some other Founding Fathers
|
|
