George Washington (1732–99) was an American political leader and military general. This “Father of the Country” led the United States during its formative days, including as the head of the Patriot forces in the American Revolutionary War 1775–83 and as its president 1789–97.
Born in Bridges Creek, Westmoreland County, Virginia, Washington was reputed for his honesty, patience, and shrewdness. The tale of his honest confession to cutting down a cherry tree (“I cannot tell a lie, I did it with my little hatchet”) is likely a fabrication of his first biographer Mason Weems, author or The Life and Memorable Actions of George Washington (1809.)
Washington served as Commander-in-chief of the Continental Army, the American and French forces that won the American War of Independence. He kept his army together through the winter of 1777–78 at Valley Forge near Philadelphia, and won the decisive battle at Yorktown, Virginia, in 1781. In 1787, Washington presided over the Constitutional Convention at Philadelphia that drafted the American Constitution and was unanimously elected president.
In his two terms as president, Washington followed a policy of neutrality in international affairs and expansion on the domestic front. He declined a third term as president and retired to his family estate at Mount Vernon, Virginia.
John R. Alden’s George Washington: A Biography (1984) narrates the interconnected histories of Washington and America. Washington Irving wrote the acclaimed The Life of George Washington (5 vols., 1855–59.)
More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by George Washington
I can only say that there is not a man living who wishes more sincerely than I do to see a plan adopted for the abolition of slavery.
—George Washington
Topics: Slavery, Wishes
I anticipate with pleasing expectations that retreat in which I promise myself to realize, without alloy, the sweet enjoyment of partaking, in the midst of my fellow citizens, the benign influence of good laws under a free government, the ever favorite object of my heart, and the happy reward, as I trust, of our mutual cares, labors, and dangers.
—George Washington
Topics: Retirement
To acknowledge the receipt of letters is always proper, to remove doubts of their miscarriage.
—George Washington
Topics: Letters
Providence has done, and I am persuaded is disposed to do, a great deal for us; but we are not to forget the fable of Jupiter and the countryman.
—George Washington
Topics: Self-reliance
In a free and republican government, you cannot restrain the voice of the multitude. Every man will speak as he thinks, or, more properly, without thinking, and consequently will judge of effects without attending to their causes.
—George Washington
Topics: Speaking, Public
It is far better to be alone, than to be in bad company.
—George Washington
Few men have virtue to withstand the highest bidder.
—George Washington
Topics: Temptation, Virtue, Virtues
To constitute a dispute there must be two parties. To understand it well, both parties and all the circumstances must be fully heard; and to accommodate the differences, temper and mutual forbearance are requisite.
—George Washington
I do not mean to exclude altogether the idea of patriotism. I know it exists, and I know it has done much in the present contest. But I will venture to assert, that a great and lasting war can never be supported on this principle alone. It must be aided by a prospect of interest, or some reward.
—George Washington
Topics: Patriotism
The tumultuous populace of large cities are ever to be dreaded. Their indiscriminate violence prostrates for the time all public authority, and its consequences are sometimes extensive and terrible.
—George Washington
Topics: Tyranny
The foolish and wicked practice of profane cursing and swearing is a vice so mean and low that every person of sense and character detests and despises it.
—George Washington
Topics: Swearing, Profanity, Vulgarity
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.
—George Washington
Topics: Government
The aggregate happiness of society, which is best promoted by the practise of a virtuous policy, is, or ought to be, the end of all government.
—George Washington
Topics: Government
To admit then a right in the House of Representatives to demand, and to have as a matter of course, all the Papers respecting a negotiation with a foreign power, would be to establish a dangerous precedent. It does not occur that the inspection of the papers asked for, can be relative to any purpose under the cognizance of the House of Representatives, except that of an impeachment, which the resolution has not expressed. I repeat, that I have no disposition to withhold any information which the duty of my station will permit, or the public good shall require to be disclosed: and in fact, all the Papers affecting the negotiation with Great Britain were laid before the Senate, when the Treaty itself was communicated for their consideration and advice. The course which the debate has taken, on the resolution of the House, leads to some observations on the mode of making treaties under the Constitution of the United States.
—George Washington
Experience teaches us that it is much easier to prevent an enemy from posting themselves than it is to dislodge them after they have got possession
—George Washington
Topics: Experience
It is among the evils, and perhaps not the smallest, of democratic governments, that the people must feel before they will see.—When this happens, they are roused to action.—Hence it is that those kinds of government are too slow.
—George Washington
Topics: Government
The administration of justice is the firmest pillar of government.
—George Washington
Topics: Justice
It is better to offer no excuse than a bad one.
—George Washington
Topics: Excuses
My mother was the most beautiful woman I ever saw. All I am I owe to my mother. I attribute all my success in life to the moral, intellectual and physical education I received from her.
—George Washington
Topics: Mothers, Mothers Day, Family
To be prepared for war is one of the most effectual means of preserving peace.
—George Washington
Topics: War, Peace
While just government protects all in their religious rites, true religion affords government its surest support.
—George Washington
Topics: Religion, Government
A slender acquaintance with the world must convince every man that actions, not words, are the true criterion of the attachment of friends.
—George Washington
Topics: Friends and Friendship, Action
‘Tis our true policy to steer clear of permanent alliances with any portion of the foreign world.
—George Washington
Topics: Community
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.
—George Washington
Topics: Miscellaneous
Let us with caution indulge the supposition that morality can be maintained without religion. Reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle.
—George Washington
Topics: Morals, Morality
Experience is the surest standard by which to test the real tendency of the existing Constitution of a country
—George Washington
Topics: Experience
At a distance from the theater of action, truth is not always related without embellishment.
—George Washington
Over grown military establishments are under any form of government inauspicious to liberty, and are to be regarded as particularly hostile to republican liberty.
—George Washington
Topics: Liberty
If we mean to support the liberty and independence which have cost us so much blood and treasure to establish, we must drive far away the demon of party spirit and local reproach.
—George Washington
Topics: Party
Nothing short of self-respect and that justice which is essential to a national character ought to involve us in war; for sure I am, if this country is preserved in tranquillity twenty years longer, it may bid defiance, in a just cause, to any power
—George Washington
Topics: Self Respect
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