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George Washington Quotes - Page 13

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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,

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
Character, Men, Important
George Washington (1983). “The Papers of George Washington”

I shall make it the most agreeable part of my duty to study merit, and reward the brave and deserving.

George Washington
Brave, Rewards, Merit
George Washington, Jared Sparks (1834). “(v. 2) Comprising official letters relating to the French War, and private letters before the American Revolution”, p.124

Indians and wolves are both beasts of prey, tho' they differ in shape.

George Washington
Shapes, Beast, American Indian

The establishment of Civil and Religious Liberty was the Motive which induced me to the Field - the object is attained - and it now remains to be my earnest wish & prayer, that the Citizens of the United States could make a wise and virtuous use of the blessings placed before them.

George Washington
Wise, Religious, Freedom
George Washington, John Clement Fitzpatrick, David Maydole Matteson (1784). “The Writings of George Washington from the Original Manuscript Sources, 1745-1799”, p.249

The wishes of the people, seldom founded in deep disquisitions, or resulting from other reasonings than their present feelings, may not entirely accord with our true policy and interest. If they do not, to observe a proper line of conduct for promoting the one, and avoiding offence to the other, will be a work of great difficulty.

George Washington
People, Feelings, Wish
George Washington (1852). “The life of General Washington: first president of the United States”, p.301

While just government protects all in their religious rites, true religion affords government its surest support.

George Washington
Religious, Government, Support
George Washington (1855). “Maxims of Washington: Political, Social, Moral and Religious”, p.352

The necessity of reciprocal checks in the exercise of political power, by dividing and distributing it into different depositories, and constituting each the guardian of the public weal against invasions by the others, has been evinced by experiments ancient and modern, some of them in our country and under our own eyes.

George Washington
Country, Eye, Exercise
George Washington, Jared Sparks (1838). “The Writings of George Washington: Being His Correspondence, Addresses, Messages, and Other Papers, Official and Private”, p.226

There exists in the economy and course of nature, an indissoluble union between virtue and happiness; between duty and advantage; between the genuine maxims of an honest and magnanimous policy, and the solid rewards of public prosperity and felicity; since we ought to be no less persuaded that 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
Order, Heaven, Unions
First Inaugural Address on April 30, 1789. "The Writings of George Washington", edited by John C. Fitzpatrick, Volume 30, pp. 294-295,

There is nothing which can better deserve your patronage, than the promotion of science and literature. Knowledge is in every country the surest basis of public happiness.

George Washington
Country, Inspiration, Knowledge
George Washington, Jared Sparks (1838). “The Writings of George Washington: Being His Correspondence, Addresses, Messages, and Other Papers, Official and Private”, p.9

My own remedy is always to eat, just before I step into bed, a hot roasted onion, if I have a cold.

George Washington
Vegetables, Bed, Hot

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.

George Washington
Real, 4th Of July, Pride
George Washington (1833). “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”, p.45

A passionate attachment of one nation for another produces a variety of evils

George Washington
Attachment, Evil, Passionate
George Washington, John Jay, Jared Sparks (1850). “Washington's Farewell Address to the People of the United States of America”, p.40, New York : J. Wiley

Interwoven is the love of liberty with every ligament of the heart.

George Washington
Love, Heart, Liberty

We ought to deprecate the hazard attending ardent and susceptible minds, from being too strongly, and too early prepossessed in favor of other political systems, before they are capable of appreciating their own.

George Washington
Education, Appreciate, Political
George Washington, Jared Sparks (1839). “The Writings of George Washington: Being His Correspondence, Addresses, Messages, and Other Papers, Official and Private, Selected and Published from the Original Manuscripts”, p.14

The Hand of providence has been so conspicuous in all this, that he must be worse than an infidel that lacks faith, and more than wicked, that has not gratitude enough to acknowledge his obligations.

George Washington
Gratitude, Hands, Religion
George Washington (1858). “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”, p.36

Let me ... warn you in the most solemn manner against the baneful effects of the spirit of party.

George Washington
Party, Spirit, Voting Founding Fathers
George Washington, Andrew Jackson (1862). “Washington's Farewell Address: The Proclamation of Jackson Against Nullification, and the Declaration of Independence”, p.7

Nothing is too extravagant to expect from men who conceive they are ungratefully and unjustly dealt by.

George Washington
Men, Injustice, Extravagant
George Washington (1908). “Letters and Addresses,”

To each of my Nephews, William Augustine Washington, George Lewis, George Steptoe Washington, Bushrod Washington, and Samuel Washington, I give one of my swords or Cutteaux of which I may be Possesed; and they are to chuse in the order they are named. These Swords are accompanied with an injuction not to unsheath them for the purpose of shedding blood, except it be for self defense, or in the defense of their Country and its rights; and in the latter case, to keep them unsheathed, and prefer falling with them in their hands, to the relenquishment thereof.

George Washington
Country, War, Fall

An army formed of good officers moves like clockwork; but there is no situation upon earth less enviable, nor more distressing, than that person's who is at the head of troops which are regardless of order and discipline.

George Washington
Moving, Army, Order
George Washington (1795). “Official Letters to the Honorable American Congress,: Written, During the War Between the United Colonies and Great Britain, by His Excellency, George Washington, Commander in Chief of the Continental Forces, Now President of the United States”, p.272

An aching head and trembling limbs, which are the inevitable effects of drinking, disincline the hands from work.

George Washington
Drinking, Hands, Alcohol
George Washington, David Maydole Matteson, United States George Washington Bicentennial Commission (1931). “The writings of George Washington from the original manuscript sources, 1745-1799”

Happiness is more effectually dispensed to mankind under a republican form of government than any other.

George Washington
Government, Historical, Republican

I now make it my earnest prayer that God would have you and the State over which you preside in His holy protection; that He would most graciously be pleased to dispose us all to do justice, to love mercy, and to demean ourselves with that charity, humility, and pacific temper of mind which were the characteristics of the Divine Author of our blessed religion, without an humble imitation of whose example in these things, we can never hope to be a happy nation.

George Washington
Prayer, Blessed, Humble
Circular Letter to the Governours of the several States, June 18, 1783.

If they are good workmen, they may be from Asia, Africa or Europe; they may be Mahometans, Jews or Christians of any sect, or they may be Atheists.

George Washington
Christian, Atheist, Europe
"Letters and Addresses".

Excessive partiality for one foreign nation and excessive dislike of another cause those whom they actuate to see danger only on one side, and serve to veil and even second the arts of influence on the other. Real patriots who may resist the intrigues of the favorite are liable to become suspected and odious, while its tools and dupes usurp the applause and confidence of the people, to surrender their interests.

George Washington
Art, Real, People
George Washington (1855). “Maxims of Washington: Political, Social, Moral and Religious”, p.90

At a distance from the theatre of action, truth is not always related without embellishment, and sometimes is entirely perverted, from a misconception of the causes which produce the effects that are the subjects of censure.

George Washington
Truth, Distance, Action
"The Writings of George Washington: Being His Correspondence, Addresses, Messages, and Other Papers, Official and Private".