Home / Quotes / Quote by George Washington

Quote by George Washington

“No pecuniary consideration is more urgent, than the regular redemption and discharge of the public debt: on none can delay be more injurious, or an economy of time more valuable.”

Book:Maxims of Washington: Political, Social, Moral, and Religious

Work

Maxims of Washington: Political, Social, Moral, and Religious

This book compiles the political, social, moral, and religious maxims of George Washington, offering a glimpse into the principles and values that guided his leadership and personal life. more

Author

George Washington

George Washington was the first President of the United States and a key figure in the American Revolutionary War. Born on February 22, 1732, and died on December 14, 1799, Washington is known for his strong leadership and belief in democracy, playing a crucial role in American history. more

“It is a wise rule and should be fundamental in a government disposed to cherish its credit, and at the same time to restrain the use of it within the limits of its faculties, "never to borrow a dollar without laying a tax in the same instant for paying the interest annually, and the principal within a given term; and to consider that tax as pledged to the creditors on the public faith."”

Source: Memoirs, Correspondence and Private Papers of Thomas Jefferson, Late President of the United States

“But with respect to future debt; would it not be wise and just for that nation to declare in the constitution they are forming that neither the legislature, nor the nation itself can validly contract more debt, than they may pay within their own age, or within the term of 19 years.”

Years May Government Age Nations Term Pay Wise Constitution Debt Budgets Contracts Being Wise Legislature Debt Free Debt By Founding Fathers

Book:Thomas Jefferson: Thoughts on War and Revolution : Annotated Correspondence

Source: Thomas Jefferson: Thoughts on War and Revolution : Annotated Correspondence

“There is not a more important and fundamental principle in legislation, than that the ways and means ought always to face the public engagements; that our appropriations should ever go hand in hand with our promises. To say that the United States should be answerable for twenty-five millions of dollars without knowing whether the ways and means can be provided, and without knowing whether those who are to succeed us will think with us on the subject, would be rash and unjustifiable. Sir, in my opinion, it would be hazarding the public faith in a manner contrary to every idea of prudence.”

“It is a well-known fact that in countries in which the national debt is properly funded, and an object of established confidence, it answers most of the purposes of money. Transfers of stock, or public debt, are there equivalent to payments in specie; or, in other words, stock, in the principal transactions of business, passes current as specie. The same thing would, in all probability, happen here, under the like circumstances.”

Source: The Vision of Hamilton: Hamilton's 4 Reports and LaRouche's 4 Laws

“If the maintenance of public credit, then, be truly important, the next enquiry which suggests itself is, by what means it is to be effected? The ready answer to which question is, by good faith, by a punctual performance of contracts. States, like individuals, who observe their engagements, are respected and trusted: while the reverse is the fate of those who pursue an opposite conduct.”

Source: The Political Economy of the American Revolution

“It is presumable that no country will be able to borrow of foreigners upon better terms than the United States, because none can, perhaps, afford so good security.”

Country States Able Term United United States Security Budgets Foreigners

Book:Reports of the Secretary of the Treasury of the United States, Prepared in Obedience to the Act of the 10th May, 1800: ... to which are Prefixed, the Reports of Alexander Hamilton, on Public Credit, on a National Bank, on Manufactures, and on the Establishment of a Mint ... Printed by Order of the Senate of the United States

Source: Reports of the Secretary of the Treasury of the United States, Prepared in Obedience to the Act of the 10th May, 1800: ... to which are Prefixed, the Reports of Alexander Hamilton, on Public Credit, on a National Bank, on Manufactures, and on the Establishment of a Mint ... Printed by Order of the Senate of the United States

“It is of the greatest consequence that the debt should, with the consent of the creditors, be remoulded into such a shape as will bring the expenditure of the nation to a level with its income. Till this shall be accomplished, the finances of the United States will never wear a proper countenance. Arrears of interest, continually accruing, will be as continual a monument, either of inability, or of ill faith and will not cease to have an evil influence on public credit.”

“And as the vicissitudes of Nations beget a perpetual tendency to the accumulation of debt, there ought to be in every government a perpetual, anxious, and unceasing effort to reduce that, which at any times exists, as fast as shall be practicable consistently with integrity and good faith.”

Government Nations Effort Ought Integrity Debt Tendencies Budgets Anxious Perpetual Consistently Accumulation Begets Good Faith Vicissitudes Debt By Founding Fathers

Book:Reports of the secretary of the Treasury of the United States

Source: Reports of the secretary of the Treasury of the United States

“The multiplication of public offices, increase of expense beyond income, growth and entailment of a public debt are indications soliciting the employment of the pruning knife.”

Growth Office Increase Debt Income Employment Budgets Expenses Knives Indication Public Office Multiplication Pruning Debt By Founding Fathers Government Debt

Book:The Writings of Thomas Jefferson: Correspondence. Reports and opinions while secretary of state

Source: The Writings of Thomas Jefferson: Correspondence. Reports and opinions while secretary of state

Quote by George Washington

Work

Author

You May Also Like