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
Observe good faith and justice toward all nations. Cultivate peace and harmony with all.
—George Washington
Topics: Harmony, Peace
Let your heart feel for the afflictions and distress of everyone, and let your hand give in proportion to your purse.
—George Washington
Topics: Work, Charity
It is to be lamented that great characters are seldom without a blot.
—George Washington
Topics: Greatness
Few men have virtue to withstand the highest bidder.
—George Washington
Topics: Virtue, Virtues, Temptation
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: Vulgarity, Profanity, Swearing
Republicanism is not the phantom of a deluded imagination.—On the contrary, under no form of government are laws better supported, liberty and property better secured, or happiness more effectually dispensed to mankind.
—George Washington
My observation is that whenever one person is found adequate to the discharge of a duty… it is worse executed by two persons, and scarcely done at all if three or more are employed therein.
—George Washington
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
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
Should the States reject this excellent Constitution, the probability is, an opportunity will never again offer to cancel another in peacethe next will be drawn in blood.
—George Washington
There is no restraining men’s tongues or pens when charged with a little vanity.
—George Washington
Topics: Vanity
Action, not words, are the true criterion of the attachment of friends.
—George Washington
Topics: Friendship, Inaction, Procrastination, Getting Going
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
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
Speak not injurious words, neither in jest nor earnest; scoff at none although they give occasion.
—George Washington
Topics: Insults
Be not forward, but friendly and courteous; the first to salute, hear and answer; and be not pensive when it is time to converse.
—George Washington
Topics: Friendship
The time is now near at hand which must probably determine, whether Americans are to be, Freemen, or Slaves; whether they are to have any property they can call their own; whether their Houses, and Farms, are to be pillaged and destroyed, and they consigned to a State of Wretchedness from which no human efforts will probably deliver them. The fate of unborn Millions will now depend, under God, on the Courage and Conduct of this armyOur cruel and unrelenting Enemy leaves us no choice but a brave resistance, or the most abject submission; that is all we can expectWe have therefore to resolve to conquer or die.
—George Washington
Topics: Freedom
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
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. Every step, by which they have advanced to the character of an independent nation, seems to have been distinguished by some token of providential agency.
—George Washington
It is much easier at all times to prevent an evil than to rectify mistakes.
—George Washington
Topics: Evil
Associate yourself with men of good quality if you esteem your own reputation; for ’tis better to be alone than in bad company.
—George Washington
Topics: Reputation, Quality, Friendship
Not only do I pray for it, on the score of human dignity, but I can clearly forsee that nothing but the rooting out of slavery can perpetuate the existence of our union, by consolidating it in a common bond of principle.
—George Washington
The propitious smiles of Heaven can never be expected on a nation that disregards the eternal rules of order and right, which Heaven itself has ordained.
—George Washington
It is well, I die hard, but I am not afraid to go.
—George Washington
Topics: Famous Last Words, Last Words
Lenity will operate with greater force, in some instances, than rigor.—It is, therefore, my first wish, to have my whole conduct distinguished by it.
—George Washington
Topics: Mercy
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
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
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
It is too probable that no plan we propose will be adopted. Perhaps another dreadful conflict is to be sustained. If to please the people, we offer what we ourselves disapprove, how can we afterwards defend our work? Let us raise a standard to which the wise and the honest can repair. The event is in the hand of God.
—George Washington
Topics: Ethics
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
I had rather be on my farm than be emperor of the world.
—George Washington
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 very idea of the power and right of the people to establish government presupposes the duty of every individual to obey the established government.
—George Washington
Topics: Government
To point out the importance of circumspection in your conduct, it may be proper to observe that a good moral character is the first essential in a man, and that the habits contracted at your age are generally indelible, and your conduct here may stamp your character through life. It is therefore highly important that you should endeavor not only to be learned but virtuous.
—George Washington
Topics: Character
When a man does all he can, though it succeeds not well, blame not him that did it.
—George Washington
Topics: Success
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: Morality, Morals
Nothing can be more hurtful to the service, than the neglect of discipline; for that discipline, more than numbers, gives one army the superiority over another.
—George Washington
Topics: Army, Discipline
Government is not reason and it is not eloquence. It is force! Like fire it is a dangerous servant and a fearful master. Never for a moment should it be left to irresponsible action.
—George Washington
Topics: Government
Someday, following the example of the United States of America, there will be a United States of Europe.
—George Washington
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
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