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George Washington Quotes

1st U.S. President

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Famous George Washington Quotes

“In his address of 19 September 1796, given as he prepared to leave office, President George Washington spoke about the importance of morality to the country's well-being: Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, Religion and Morality are indispensable supports. . . . And let us with caution indulge the supposition that morality can be maintained without religion. . . . Can it be that Providence has not connected the permanent felicity of a Nation with its virtue?”

WellsCountryPoliticalReligionGivenNationsPresidentSupportVirtueHabitMoralityOfficeImportancePreparedProsperityConnectedWell BeingPermanentAddressesSpokesProvidenceSeptemberDispositionIndispensableCautionIndulgeFelicitySupposition
Author:George Washington
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“Our country's honor calls upon us for a vigorous and manly exertion; and if we now shamefully fail, we shall become infamous to the whole world.”

IfsWorldCountryWholeFailingFailureHonorWhole WorldOur CountryVigorousAmerican RevolutionManlyExertionInfamous
Book:The Writings of George Washington: Being His Correspondence, Addresses, Messages, and Other Papers, Official and Private
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“There is no practice more dangerous than that of borrowing money; for when money can be had in this way, repayment is seldom thought of in time, the interest becomes a loss, exertions to raise it by dent of industry cease, it comes easy and is spent freely, and many things (are) indulged in that would never be thought of if (they were) to be purchased by the sweat of the brow.”

IfsWayEasyInterestLossPracticeDangerousIndustryRaisesCeaseSweatBrowsBorrowingExertionBorrowing MoneyRepayment
Author:George Washington
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“The blessed Religion revealed in the word of God will remain an eternal and awful monument to prove that the best Institution may be abused by human depravity; and that they may even, in some instances be made subservient to the vilest purposes.”

HumansMayMadePurposeProveEternalInstitutionsBlessedGods WillInstanceAwfulWord Of GodMonumentDepravitySubservientGod And Country
Book:The Papers of George Washington: April-June 1789
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“Of all the animosities which have existed among mankind, those which are caused by difference of sentiment in religion appear to be the most inveterate and distressing, and ought most to be deprecated.”

ReligionDifferencesMankindOughtSeparationSentimentsFoundersFoundingChurch And StateSeparation Of Church And StateOur Founding FathersFounding Fathers ChristianUs Founding FathersFounding Fathers ReligionSeparation Between Church And StateFounding Fathers ReligiousAnimosityReligion GodFounding Fathers Anti ReligionFounding Fathers Of AmericaFounding AmericaAmerican Founding FathersFounding Fathers AtheistDistressingReligion ChristianChristian FatherReligion And GovernmentChristian RightAgainst ReligionAnti ReligionAcrimony
Book:The Writings: Being His Correspondence, Addresses, Messages, and Other Papers, Official and Private, Selected and Published from the Original Manuscripts : with a Life of the Author, Notes and Illustrations
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“I heard the bullets whistle-- and believe me, there is something charming in the sound.”

BelieveSoundHeardBelieve In MeCharmingBullets
Book:The Writings of George Washington: pt. I. Official letters relating to the French war, and private letters before the American revolution: March, 1754-May, 1775
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“Be courteous to all, but intimate with few.”

FriendshipFriendsMy FriendsIntimateMy Best FriendCourtesyBest FriendMy FriendshipAbout FriendshipCourteousRevolutionary WarIntimate RelationshipsGreat FriendshipDealing With PeopleFew FriendsFriends And EnemiesFriendship GardenWonderful FriendshipIntimate FriendsChoosing FriendsAwesome FriendshipMeaningful FriendshipCourtesy MannersQualities Of A FriendSacred FireWisdom And FriendshipMoments With Friends
Book:The Life of General Washington: First President of the United States
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“There was not a member of the Constitutional Convention who had the least objection to what is contended for by the advocates for a Bill of Rights and trial by jury.”

LawRightsMembersBillsTrialsConventionsJuryObjectionsBill Of RightsConstitutional ConventionTrial By Jury
Book:pt. III. Private letters from the time Washington resigned his commission as commander-in-chief of the Army to that of his inauguration as president of the United States: December, 1783-April, 1789
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“The great rule of conduct for us, in regard to foreign nations, is in extending our commercial relations to have as little political connection as possible... Why, by interweaving our destiny with that of any part of Europe, entangle our peace and prosperity in the toils of European ambition, rivalships, interest, humor, or caprice?... It is our true policy to steer clear of permanent alliances with any portion of the foreign world.”

WorldLittlesAmericaPoliticalNationsInterestDestinyClearPolicyAmbitionEuropeConnectionsRelationRegardProsperityPermanentPortionsToilOur DestinyAlliancesSteersExtendingCapriceFarewell Address
Author:George Washington
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“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.”

AgePresidentRightsMankindIgnorancePeriodsUnderstoodFoundationDefinedFormerEmpiresSuperstitionsGloomyEpoch
Book:The Life of General Washington: First President of the United States
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“The United States enjoy a scene of prosperity and tranquility under the new government that could hardly have been hoped for.”

Has BeensStatesGovernmentEnjoyUnitedUnited StatesSceneProsperityTranquilityNew Government
Book:The Writings of George Washington: Being His Correspondence, Addresses, Messages, and Other Papers, Official and Private, Selected and Published from the Original Manuscripts; with a Life of the Author, Notes and Illustrations
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“Serious misfortunes, originating in misrepresentation, frequently flow and spread before they can be dissipated by truth.”

SeriousFlowSpreadMisfortunesRumorMisrepresentation
Book:The Writings of George Washington: pt. IV. Letters official and private, from the beginning of his presidency to the end of his life: (v. 10) May, 1789-November, 1794. (v. 11) November, 1794-December, 1799
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“Harmony, liberal intercourse with all nations, are recommended by policy, humanity, and interest.”

HumanityNationsInterestPolicyHarmonyIntercourseFarewell Address
Book:The Writings of George Washington: Being His Correspondence, Addresses, Messages, and Other Papers, Official and Private, Selected and Published from the Original Manuscripts; with a Life of the Author, Notes and Illustrations
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“I regret exceedingly that the disputes between the protestants and Roman Catholics should be carried to the serious alarming height mentioned in your letters. Religious controversies are always productive of more acrimony and irreconcilable hatreds than those which spring from any other cause; and I was not without hopes that the enlightened and liberal policy of the present age would have put an effectual stop to contentions of this kind.”

ShouldKindAgeCausesReligiousPolicySeriousRegretSpringLettersHatredCatholicHeightProductiveEnlightenedControversyDisputesProtestantsI RegretContentionWithout HopeRoman CatholicAcrimony
Author:George Washington
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“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.”

I CanImportantEffectsDutyPromiseIntentionPurityStationsFidelityDiligenceExecutingPresidents DayPurity Of Intention
Book:The Writings of George Washington: pt. V. Speeches and messages to Congress, proclamations, and addresses
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