Inspirational Quotations

Inspirational Quotes by George Washington (American Head of State)

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

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.
George Washington

Be courteous to all, but intimate with few, and let those few be well tried before you give them your confidence. True friendship is a plant of slow growth, and must undergo and withstand the shocks of adversity before it is entitled to the appellation.
George Washington
Topics: Friends, Friendship, Difficulty, Friends and Friendship

Liberty, when it begins to take root, is a plant of rapid growth.
George Washington
Topics: Liberty, Freedom

To be prepared for war is one of the most effectual means of preserving peace.
George Washington
Topics: War, Peace

Associate yourself with men of good quality, if you esteem your reputation. Be not apt to relate news, if you know not the truth thereof. Speak no evil of the absent, for it is unjust. Undertake not what you cannot perform, but be careful to keep your promise. There is but one straight course, and that is to seek truth, and pursue it steadily. Nothing but harmony, honesty, industry and frugality are necessary to make us a great and happy nation.
George Washington
Topics: Truth

Experience has taught us that men will not adopt and carry into execution measures the best calculated for their own good without the intervention of a coercive power
George Washington
Topics: Experience

You will therefore send me none but Natives, and Men of some property, if you have them.
George Washington

We ought not to look back unless it is to derive useful lessons from past errors, and for the purpose of profiting by dear-bought experience.
George Washington
Topics: Wisdom, Historians, History, Goal, Past

Mankind, when left to themselves, are unfit for their own government.
George Washington
Topics: Government

Sleep not when others speak,
sit not when others stand,
speak not when you should hold your peace,
walk not when others stop.
George Washington

It is much easier at all times to prevent an evil than to rectify mistakes.
George Washington
Topics: Evil

Do not conceive that fine clothes make fine men, any more than fine feathers make fine birds. A plain, genteel dress is more admired, obtains more credit in the eyes of the judicious and sensible.
George Washington
Topics: Style

There is an opinion that parties in free countries are useful checks upon the administration of the government, and serve to keep alive the spirit of liberty. This, within certain limits, is probably true. But in governments of a popular character, and purely elective, it is a spirit not to be encouraged. From their natural tendency, there will always be enough of that spirit for every salutary purpose. And there being constant danger of excess, the effort ought to be, by force of public opinion, to mitigate and assuage it. A fire not to be quenched, it demands a uniform vigilance to prevent it bursting into a flame, lest, instead of warming, it should consume.
George Washington
Topics: Party

It is to be lamented that great characters are seldom without a blot.
George Washington
Topics: Greatness

Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supporters.—A volume could not trace all their connections with private and public felicity.
George Washington
Topics: Religion

The name of American, which belongs to you, in your national capacity, must always exalt the just pride of Patriotism…. 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.
George Washington
Topics: America

The administration of justice is the firmest pillar of government.
George Washington
Topics: Justice

There is a natural and necessary progression, from the extreme of anarchy to the extreme of tyranny; and arbitrary power is most easily established on the ruins of liberty abused to licentiousness.
George Washington
Topics: Tyranny

As Mankind becomes more liberal, they will be more apt to allow that all those who conduct themselves as worthy members of the community are equally entitled to the protections of civil government. I hope ever to see America among the foremost nations of justice and liberality.
George Washington
Topics: Liberalism

‘Tis our true policy to steer clear of permanent alliances with any portion of the foreign world.
George Washington
Topics: Community

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

Speak not injurious words, neither in jest nor earnest; scoff at none although they give occasion.
George Washington
Topics: Insults

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, Family, Mothers Day

My temper leads me to peace and harmony with all men; and it is peculiarly my wish to avoid any personal feuds or dissensions with those, who are embarked in the same great national interest with myself, as every difference of this kind in its consequence must be very injurious.
George Washington
Topics: Harmony

The bosom of America is open to receive not only the Opulent and respectable Stranger, but the oppressed and persecuted of all Nations And Religions; whom we shall wellcome to a participation of all our rights and previleges, if by decency and propriety of conduct they appear to merit the enjoyment.
George Washington

Such is the turbulence of human passions in party disputes, when victory more than truth is contended for, that the post of honor is a private station.
George Washington
Topics: Party

When a man does all he can, though it succeeds not well, blame not him that did it.
George Washington
Topics: Success

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 is the surest standard by which to test the real tendency of the existing Constitution of a country
George Washington
Topics: Experience

Let your countenance be pleasant, but in serious matters let it be somewhat grave.
George Washington
Topics: Manners

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