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George Washington Quotes
Here are some more George Washington Quotes for you. These quotes are
from George Washington's letters, diaries, documents and speeches. George
Washington is undoubtedly the greatest hero of the Revolutionary War. There
is much to learn from studying his own words. These George Washington Quotes
are listed in chronological order with links to more at the bottom.
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George Washington
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For a list of interesting George Washington Facts,
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George Washington Quotes
"Can you then consent to be the only sufferers by this revolution, and retiring
from the field, grow old in poverty, wretchedness and contempt? Can you consent
to wade through the vile mire of dependency, and owe the miserable remnant of
that life to charity, which has hitherto been spent in honor? If you can - GO -
and carry with you the jest of tories and scorn of whigs - the ridicule, and
what is worse, the pity of the world. Go, starve, and be forgotten!"
- Letter to Officers of the Army, March 12, 1783
"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." - While fumbling
for his glasses before delivering the Newburgh Address, March 15, 1783
"If men are to be precluded from offering their sentiments on a matter which
may involve the most serious and alarming consequences that can invite the
consideration of mankind, reason is of no use to us; the freedom of speech
may be taken away, and dumb and silent we may be led, like sheep to the
slaughter." - Address to Officers of the Army, March 15, 1783
"You will, by the dignity of your Conduct, afford occasion for Posterity to
say, when speaking of the glorious example you have exhibited to Mankind, had
this day been wanting, the World had never seen the last stage of perfection
to which human nature is capable of attaining." - Response to the First
Newburgh Address, March 15, 1783
"For if Men are to be precluded from offering their Sentiments on a matter,
which may involve the most serious and alarming consequences, that can invite
the consideration of Mankind, reason is of no use to us; the freedom of Speech
may be taken away, and, dumb and silent we may be led, like sheep, to the
Slaughter." - Address to the Officers of the Army, March 15, 1783
"Nothing is too extravagant to expect from men who conceive they are
ungratefully and unjustly dealt by." - Letter to Joseph Jones, March 18,
1783
"The Commander in chief thinks it a duty to declare the regularity and
decorum with which divine service is now performed every Sunday, will
reflect great credit on the army in general, tend to improve the morals,
and at the same time, to increase the happiness of the soldiery, and must
afford the most pure and rational entertainment for every serious and well
disposed mind." - General Orders, March 22, 1783
"The Army (considering the irritable state it is in, its suffering and
composition) is a dangerous instrument to play with." - Letter to Alexander
Hamilton, April 4, 1783
Here are Some More
George Washington Quotes
George
Washington
"Happy, thrice happy shall they be pronounced hereafter, who have contributed
any thing, who have performed the meanest office in erecting this stupendous
fabrick of Freedom and Empire on the broad basis of Independency; who have
assisted in protecting the rights of humane nature and establishing an
Asylum for the poor and oppressed of all nations and religions." - General
Orders, April 18, 1783
"The Commander in Chief orders the Cessation of Hostilities between the
United States of America and the King of Great Britain to be publickly
proclaimed tomorrow at 12 o-clock at the New building, and that the
Proclamation which will be communicated herewith, be read tomorrow evening
at the head of every regiment and corps of the army. After which the
Chaplains with the several Brigades will render thanks to almighty God
for all his mercies, particularly for his over ruling the wrath of man
to his own glory, and causing the rage of war to cease amongst the nations.
Although the proclamation before alluded to, extends only to the prohibition
of hostilities and not to the annunciation of a general peace, yet it must
afford the most rational and sincere satisfaction to every benevolent mind,
as it puts a period to a long and doubtful contest, stops the effusion of
human blood, opens the prospect to a more splendid scene, and like another
morning star, promises the approach of a brighter day than hath hitherto
illuminated the Western Hemisphere; on such a happy day, a day which is the
harbinger of Peace, a day which compleats the eighth year of the war, it
would be ingratitude not to rejoice! it would be insensibility not to
participate in the general felicity.
The Commander in Chief far from endeavouring to stifle the feelings of Joy
in his own bosom, offers his most cordial Congratulations on the occasion
to all the Officers of every denomination, to all the Troops of the United
States in General, and in particular to those gallant and persevering men
who had resolved to defend the rights of their invaded country so long as
the war should continue. For these are the men who ought to be considered
as the pride and boast of the American Army; And, who crowned with well
earned laurels, may soon withdraw from the field of Glory, to the more
tranquil walks of civil life.
While the General recollects the almost infinite variety of Scenes thro
which we have passed, with a mixture of pleasure, astonishment, and gratitude;
While he contemplates the prospects before us with rapture; he can not help
wishing that all the brave men (of whatever condition they may be) who have
shared in the toils and dangers of effecting this glorious revolution, of
rescuing Millions from the hand of oppression, and of laying the foundation
of a great Empire, might be impressed with a proper idea of the dignifyed
part they have been called to act (under the Smiles of providence) on the
stage of human affairs: for, happy, thrice happy shall they be pronounced
hereafter, who have contributed any thing, who have performed the meanest
office in erecting this stupendous fabrick of Freedom and Empire on the
broad basis of Independency; who have assisted in protecting the rights
of humane nature and establishing an Asylum for the poor and oppressed of
all nations and religions. The glorious task for which we first fleu to
Arms being thus accomplished, the liberties of our Country being fully
acknowledged, and firmly secured by the smiles of heaven, on the purity
of our cause, and the honest exertions of a feeble people (determined to
be free) against a powerful Nation (disposed to oppress them) and the
Character of those who have persevered, through every extremity of
hardship; suffering and danger being immortalized by the illustrious
appellation of the patriot Army: Nothing now remains but for the actors
of this mighty Scene to preserve a perfect, unvarying, consistency of
character through the very last act; to close the Drama with applause;
and to retire from the Military Theatre with the same approbation of
Angells and men which have crowned all their former virtuous Actions."
- General Orders announcing the end of the war, April 18, 1783
Read on for more
George Washington Quotes
"It may be laid down as a primary position, and the basis of our system,
that every Citizen who enjoys the protection of a free Government, owes
not only a proportion of his property, but even his personal services to
the defence of it, and consequently that the Citizens of America (with a
few legal and official exceptions) from 18 to 50 Years of Age should be
borne on the Militia Rolls, provided with uniform Arms, and so far
accustomed to the use of them, that the Total strength of the Country
might be called forth at a Short Notice on any very interesting Emergency."
- Letter to Alexander Hamilton, May 2, 1783
"Ingratitude has been experienced in all ages, and republics in particular
have ever been famed for the exercise of that unnatural and sordid vice."
- Letter to Major General Israel Putnam, June 2, 1783
"I now make it my earnest prayer, that God would have you, and the State
over which you preside, in his holy protection, that he would incline the
hearts of the Citizens to cultivate a spirit of subordination and obedience
to Government, to entertain a brotherly affection and love for one another,
for their fellow Citizens of the United States at large, and particularly
for their brethren who have served in the Field, and finally, that he would
most graciously be pleased to dispose us all, to do Justice, to love mercy,
and to demean ourselves with that Charity, humility and pacific temper of
mind, which were the Characteristicks of the Divine Author of our blessed
Religion, and without an humble imitation of whose example in these things,
we can never hope to be a happy Nation." - Circular Letter of Farewell
to the Army, June 8, 1783
"The Citizens of America, placed in the most enviable condition, as the
sole Lords and Proprietors of a vast Tract of Continent, comprehending all
the various soils and climates of the World, and abounding with all the
necessaries and conveniencies of life, are now by the late satisfactory
pacification, acknowledged to be possessed of absolute freedom and Independency;
They are, from this period, to be considered as the Actors on a most conspicuous
Theatre, which seems to be peculiarly designated by Providence for the display
of human greatness and felicity." - Circular to the States, June 8, 1783
"The foundation of our Empire was not laid in the gloomy age of Ignorance and
Superstition, but at an Epoch when the rights of mankind were better understood
and more clearly defined, than at any former period, the researches of the human
mind, after social happiness, have been carried to a great extent, the Treasures
of knowledge, acquired by the labours of Philosophers, Sages and Legislatures,
through a long succession of years, are laid open for our use, and their collected
wisdom may be happily applied in the Establishment of our forms of Government;
the free cultivation of Letters, the unbounded extension of Commerce, the
progressive refinement of Manners, the growing liberality of sentiment, and
above all, the pure and benign light of Revelation, have had a meliorating
influence on mankind and increased the blessings of Society. At this auspicious
period, the United States came into existence as a Nation, and if their Citizens
should not be completely free and happy, the fault will be intirely their own."
- Circular to the States, June 8, 1783
"I accept, with much pleasure your kind Congratulations on the happy Event of
Peace, with the Establishment of our Liberties and Independence. Glorious
indeed has been our Contest: glorious in its Issue; but in the midst of our
Joys, I hope we shall not forget that, to divine providence is to be ascribed
the glory and the Praise." - Letter to Rev. John Rodgers, June 11, 1783
"Glorious indeed has been our Contest: glorious, if we consider the Prize for
which we have contended, and glorious in its Issue; but in the midst of our
Joys, I hope we shall not forget that, to divine Providence is to be ascribed
the Glory and the Praise." - Letter to Rev. John Rodgers, June 11, 1783
A few more
George Washington Quotes!
"I now make it my earnest prayer that God would have you and the state over
which you preside in his holy protection: that he would incline the hearts
of the citizens to cultivate a spirit of subordination and obedience to
government, to entertain a brotherly affection and love for one another, for
their fellow-citizens of the United State at large, and particularly for their
brethren who have served in the field: and, finally, that he would most
graciously be pleased to dispose us all to do justice, to love mercy, and
to demean ourselves with that charity, humility, and pacific temper of mind,
which were the characteristics of the divine author of our blessed religion:
without an humble imitation of whose example, in these things, we can ever hope
to he a happy nation." - Circular Letter to the Governors, June 13, 1783
"Honesty will be found on every experiment, to be the best and only true policy;
let us then as a Nation be just." - Circular Letter to the States, June 14,
1783
"Liberty, when it degenerates into licentiousness, begets confusion, and
frequently ends in Tyranny or some woeful catastrophe." - Letter to John
Augustine Washington, June 15, 1783
"A hundred thousand men, coming one after another, cannot move a Ton weight;
but the united strength of 50 would transport it with ease." - Letter to
Dr. William Gordon, July 8, 1783
"It now rests with the Confederated Powers, by the line of conduct they mean
to adopt, to make this Country great, happy, and respectable; or to sink it
into littleness; worse perhaps, into Anarchy and Confusion; for certain I am,
that unless adequate Powers are given to Congress for the general purposes of
the Federal Union that we shall soon moulder into dust and become contemptable
in the Eyes of Europe, if we are not made the sport of their Politicks; to
suppose that the general concern of this Country can be directed by thirteen
heads, or one head without competent powers, is a solecism, the bad effects
of which every Man who has had the practical knowledge to judge from, that I
have, is fully convinced of; tho' none perhaps has felt them in so forcible,
and distressing a degree. The People at large, and at a distance from the
theatre of Action, who only know that the Machine was kept in motion, and
that they are at last arrived at the first object of their Wishes are
satisfied with the event, without investigating the causes of the slow
progress to it, or of the Expences which have accrued and which they now
seem unwilling to pay; great part of which has arisen from that want of
energy in the Federal Constitution which I am complaining of, and which
I wish to see given to it by a Convention of the People." - Letter to
William Gordon, July 8, 1783
"Your Ladyships benevolent Designs toward the Indian Nations, claim my
particular Attention, and to further so laudable an Undertaking will
afford me much pleasure, so far as my Situation in Life, surrounded
with many and arduous Cares will admit. To be named as an Executor of your
Intentions, may perhaps disappoint your Ladyships Views; but so far as my
general Superintendence, or incidental Attention can contribute to the
promotion of your Establishment, you may command my Assistance." - Letter
to Countess Huntington, a prominent English evangelical leader, August
10, 1783
"When once the woman has tempted us, and we have tasted the forbidden fruit,
there is no such thing as checking our appetites, whatever the consequences
may be." - Letter to Mrs. Richard Stockton, September 2, 1783
"I never did, nor do I believe I ever shall, give advice to a woman who is
setting out on a matrimonial voyage; first, because I never could advise
one to marry without her own consent; and, secondly, I know it is to no
purpose to advise her to refrain when she has obtained it. A woman very
rarely asks an opinion or requires advice on such an occasion, till her
resolution is formed; and then it is with the hope and expectation of
obtaining a sanction, not that she means to be governed by your disapprobation,
that she applies." - Letter to Lund Washington, September 20, 1783
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