“Be courteous to all, but intimate with few, and let those few be well tried before you give them your confidence.”
Source: The Life of General Washington: First President of the United States
“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.”
“Associate with men of good quality if you esteem your own reputation; for it is better to be alone than in bad company.”
Source: 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
“The time is near at hand which must determine whether Americans are to be free men or slaves.”
“The marvel of all history is the patience with which men and women submit to burdens unnecessarily laid upon them by their governments.”
“Happiness and moral duty are inseparably connected.”
Source: The Writings of George Washington: pt. V. Speeches and messages to Congress, proclamations, and addresses
“Guard against the impostures of pretended patriotism.”
Source: Washington's Farewell Address to the People of the United States
“The Constitution is the guide which I never will abandon.”
Source: The Quotable George Washington: The Wisdom of an American Patriot
“True friendship is a plant of slow growth, and must undergo and withstand the shocks of adversity, before it is entitled to the appellation.”
Source: The Writings of George Washington: pt. II. Correspondence and miscellaneous papers relating to the American revolution: (v. 3) June, 1775-July, 1776. (v. 4) July, 1776-July] 1777. (v. 5) July, 1777-July, 1778. (v. 6) July, 1778-March, 1780. (v. 7) March, 1780-April, 1781. (v. 8) April, 1781-December, 1783
“Labor to keep alive in your breast that little spark of celestial fire, called conscience.”
“Truth will ultimately prevail where there is pains taken to bring it to light.”
“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.”
Source: The Writings of George Washington: pt. II. Correspondence and miscellaneous papers relating to the American revolution: (v. 3) June, 1775-July, 1776. (v. 4) July, 1776-July] 1777. (v. 5) July, 1777-July, 1778. (v. 6) July, 1778-March, 1780. (v. 7) March, 1780-April, 1781. (v. 8) April, 1781-December, 1783
“Let us raise a standard to which the wise and honest can repair; the rest is in the hands of God.”
“If we desire to avoid insult, we must be able to repel it; if we desire to secure peace, one of the most powerful instruments of our rising prosperity, it must be known, that we are at all times ready for War.”
Source: Speeches and messages to Congress, proclamations, and addresses
“I hope I shall possess firmness and virtue enough to maintain what I consider the most enviable of all titles, the character of an honest man.”
Source: The Quotable George Washington: The Wisdom of an American Patriot
“Observe good faith and justice toward all nations. Cultivate peace and harmony with all.”
“Over grown military establishments are under any form of government inauspicious to liberty, and are to be regarded as particularly hostile to republican liberty.”
“The foolish and wicked practice of profane cursing and swearing...is a vice so mean and low, without any temptation, that every man of sense and character detests and despises it.”
“The basis of our political system is the right of the people to make and to alter their constitutions of government.”
“Let your heart feel for the afflictions and distress of everyone, and let your hand give in proportion to your purse.”
Source: Affectionately Yours, George Washington: A Self-portrait in Letters of Friendship
“A slender acquaintance with the world must convince every man that actions, not words, are the true criterion of the attachment of friends.”
Source: The Quotable George Washington: The Wisdom of an American Patriot
“When we assumed the Soldier, we did not lay aside the Citizen.”
“Mankind, when left to themselves, are unfit for their own government.”
Source: The Life of General Washington: First President of the United States
“Arbitrary power is most easily established on the ruins of liberty abused to licentiousness.”
Source: A circular Letter ... to ... W. Greene, Governor ... of Rhode Island
“We are persuaded that good Christians will always be good citizens, and that where righteousness prevails among individuals the Nation will be great and happy. Thus while just government protects all in their religious rights, true religion affords to government it's surest support.”
“We should not look back unless it is to derive useful lessons from past errors, and for the purpose of profiting by dearly bought experience.”
“It is better to offer no excuse than a bad one.”
Source: 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
“Discipline is the soul of an army. It makes small numbers formidable; procures success to the weak, and esteem to all.”
Source: The Quotable George Washington: The Wisdom of an American Patriot
“Few men have virtue to withstand the highest bidder.”
Source: The Writings of George Washington: Being His Correspondence, Addresses, Messages, and Other Papers, Official and Private, Selected and Published from the Original Manuscripts
“My first wish is, to see this plague of mankind banished from the earth, and the sons and daughters of this world employed in more pleasing and innocent amusements, than in preparing implements, and exercising them, for the destruction of mankind.”
“Worry is the interest paid by those who borrow trouble.”
“Some day, following the example of the United States of America, there will be a United States of Europe.”
“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.”
Source: The Writings of George Washington: Being His Correspondence, Addresses, Messages, and Other Papers, Official and Private
“The due administration of justice is the firmest pillar of good government, I have considered the first arrangement of the judicial department as essential to the happiness of the country, and to the stability of its political system.”
“Liberty, when it begins to take root, is a plant of rapid growth.”
Source: The Quotable George Washington: The Wisdom of an American Patriot
“The constitution vests the power of declaring war in Congress; therefore no offensive expedition of importance can be undertaken until after they shall have deliberated upon the subject and authorized such a measure.”
Source: 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
“War - An act of violence whose object is to constrain the enemy, to accomplish our will.”
“I walk on untrodden ground. There is scarcely any part of my conduct which may not hereafter be drawn into precedent.”
Source: George Washington's Rules of Civility and Decent Behavior: ...And Other Important Writings
“Let your Discourse with Men of Business be Short and Comprehensive.”
Source: Words of Washington
“I have no other view than to promote the public good, and am unambitious of honors not founded in the approbation of my Country.”
Source: Correspondence and miscellaneous papers relating to the American revolution. June, 1775, to July, 1776 (v. 3); July, 1776, to July, 1777 (v. 4); July, 1777, to July, 1778 (v. 5); July, 1778, to March, 1780 (v. 6); March, 1780, to April, 1781 (v. 7); April, 1781, to December, 1783 (v. 8)
“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.”
“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 of his personal services to the defense of it.”
Source: Basic Writings of George Washington
“Bad seed is a robbery of the worst kind: for your pocket-book not only suffers by it, but your preparations are lost and a season passes away unimproved.”
“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.”
Source: 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
“There can be no greater error than to expect, or calculate, upon real favors from nation to nation. It is an illusion which experience must cure, which a just pride ought to discard.”
Source: Declaration of Independence ... with the Names, Places of Residence, &c. of the Signers. Constitution of the United States ...: Also, Address of George Washington ... on Declining Being Considered a Candidate for Their Future Suffrages. September 17, 1796
“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.”
Source: The writings of George Washington from the original manuscript sources, 1745-1799
“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.”
Source: 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
“The preservation of the sacred fire of liberty, and the destiny of the Republican model of Government, are justly considered as deeply, perhaps as finally staked, on the experiment entrusted to the hands of the American people.”
“Interwoven as is the love of liberty with every ligament of your hearts, no recommendation of mine is necessary to fortify or confirm the attachment.”
Source: Washington's Farewell Address to the People of the United States
“A government is like fire, a handy servant, but a dangerous master.”
