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George Washington Quotes - Page 26

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Let experience solve it. To listen to mere speculation in such a case were criminal.

Let experience solve it. To listen to mere speculation in such a case were criminal.

George Washington
Learning, Criminals, Crime
Nancy Spannaus, Christopher White, Alexander Hamilton, Thomas More, Henry VIII (2015). “The Political Economy of the American Revolution”, p.282, Executive Intelligence Review

My policy has been, and will continue to be, while I have the honor to remain in the administration of the government, to be upon friendly terms with, but independent of, all the nations of the earth. To share in the broils of none. To fulfil our own engagements. To supply the wants, and be carriers for them all: Being thoroughly convinced that it is our policy and interest to do so.

George Washington
Independent, Government, Honor
George Washington (1989). “Maxims of George Washington: Political, Military, Social, Moral, and Religious”, Mount Vernon Ladies Assn of the

We began a contest for liberty ill provided with the means for the war, relying on our patriotism to supply the deficiency. We expected to encounter many wants and distressed we must bear the present evils and fortitude

George Washington
War, Mean, Evil

Like a young heir, come a little prematurely to a large inheritance, we shall wanton and run riot until we have brought our reputation to the brink of ruin, and then, like him, shall have to labor with the current of opinion, when COMPELLED perhaps, to do what prudence and common policy pointed out, as plain as any problem in Euclid, in the first instance.

George Washington
Running, Inheritance, Littles
George Washington (1872). “Words of Washington”, p.106

It rarely happens otherwise than that a thorough-faced coquette dies in celibacy, as a punishment for her attempts to mislead others, by encouraging looks, words, or actions, given for no other purpose than to draw men on to make overtures that they may be rejected.

George Washington
Men, May, Coquette
George Washington (1908). “Letters and Addresses,”

Extensive powers not exercised as far as was necessary have, I believe, scarcely ever failed to ruin the possessor.

George Washington
Believe, Power, Ruins
George Washington, Jared Sparks (1840). “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”, p.100

They will avoid ... those Overgrown Military establishements which ... are ... particularly hostile to Republican liberty.

George Washington
Military, Evil, Liberty

I wish the constitution, which is offered, had been made more perfect; but I sincerely believe it is the best that could be obtained at this time. And, as a constitutional door is opened for amendment hereafter, the adoption of it, under the present circumstances of the Union, is in my opinion desirable.

George Washington
Believe, Doors, Perfect
George Washington, Jared Sparks (1847). “The Writings of George Washington: 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”, p.266

... the benefit arising from moderate use of strong Liquor have been experienced in all Armies, and are not to be disputed.

George Washington
Strong, Army, Use
George Washington, John Clement Fitzpatrick, David Maydole Matteson (1777). “The Writings of George Washington from the Original Manuscript Sources, 1745-1799”, p.73

The duty of holding a Neutral conduct may be inferred, without any thing more, from the obligation which justice and humanity impose on every nation, in cases in which it is free to act, to maintain inviolate the relations of Peace and amity toward other Nations.

George Washington
Justice, Humanity, May
George Washington, Andrew Jackson (1862). “Washington's Farewell Address: The Proclamation of Jackson Against Nullification, and the Declaration of Independence”, p.11

To me, it appears no unjust simile to compare the affairs of this great Continent to the mechanism of a clock, each state representing some one or other of the smaller parts of it which they are endeavoring to put in fine order without considering how useless & unavailing their labor is unless the great Wheel or Spring which is to set the whole in motion is also well attended to & kept in good order.

George Washington
Spring, Order, Useless
George Washington, John Clement Fitzpatrick, David Maydole Matteson, United States George Washington Bicentennial Commission (1779). “The Writings of George Washington from the Original Manuscript Sources, 1745-1799”, p.301

Patience is a noble virtue, and, when rightly exercised, does not fail of its reward.

George Washington
Doe, Noble, Rewards
George Washington, John Clement Fitzpatrick, David Maydole Matteson (1784). “The Writings of George Washington from the Original Manuscript Sources, 1745-1799”, p.1

There is a Destiny which has the control of our actions, not to be resisted by the strongest efforts of Human Nature.

George Washington
Destiny, Effort, Our Actions
George Washington, John Clement Fitzpatrick, David Maydole Matteson (1769). “The Writings of George Washington from the Original Manuscript Sources, 1745-1799”, p.288

It is not the mere study of the Law, but to become eminent in the profession of it, which is to yield honor and profit.

George Washington
Yield, Law, Honor
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.373

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?

George Washington
Country, Office, Support

Experience has taught us that men will not adopt and carry into execution measures the best calculated for their own good without the intervention of a coercive power.

George Washington
Men, Taught Us, Execution
George Washington (1855). “Maxims of Washington: Political, Social, Moral, and Religious”, p.62

Smaller societies must prepare the way for greater.

George Washington
Way, Greater
George Washington, John Clement Fitzpatrick, David Maydole Matteson (1793). “The Writings of George Washington from the Original Manuscript Sources, 1745-1799”

The necessity of procuring good Intelligence is apparent & need not be further urged-All that remains for me to add, is, that you keep the whole matter as secret as possible. For upon Secrecy, Success depends in most Enterprizes of the kind, and for want of it, they are generally defeated, however well planned & promising a favourable issue.

George Washington
Issues, Secret, Add
To Colonel Elias Dayton, 26 July 1777; cited in Helgerson, CIA Briefings (1996). When President Kennedy visited CIA in January 1961 he saw this letter on display and asked for a copy of it. He later wrote to DCI Allen Dulles, "The letter is both a fine memento of my visit with you and a continuing reminder of the role of intelligence in national policy."

It is a maxim, founded on the universal experience of mankind, that no nation is to be trusted farther than it is bound by its interest; and no prudent statesman or politician will venture to depart from it.

George Washington
Politics, Venture, Prudent
George Washington (1834). “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)”, p.110

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
War, Mean, Patriotic
George Washington, David Maydole Matteson, United States George Washington Bicentennial Commission (1778). “The writings of George Washington from the original manuscript sources, 1745-1799”, p.286

From thinking proceeds speaking; thence to acting is often but a single step. But how irrevocable and tremendous!

George Washington
Thinking, Acting, Steps
George Washington (1835). “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”, p.189

I am led to reflect how much more delightful to an undebauched mind is the task of making improvements on the earth, than all the vain glory which can be acquired from ravaging it by the most uninterrupted career of conquests.

George Washington
Garden, Careers, Mind
George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Richard Peters (1847). “Letters on Agriculture from His Excellency, George Washington, President of the United States, to Arthur Young, Esq., F.R.S., and Sir John Sinclair, Bart., M.P.: With Statistical Tables and Remarks, by Thomas Jefferson, Richard Peters, and Other Gentlemen, on the Economy and Management of Farms in the United States”, p.24

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
Peace, Opportunity, Blood
Attributed to George Washington in the Pennsylvania Journal and Weekly Advertiser (p. 3, column 1), November 14, 1787.

The General most earnestly requires, and expects, a due observance of those articles of war, established for the government of the army which forbid profane cursing, swearing and drunkenness; and in like manner requires and expects, of all officers, and soldiers, not engaged on actual duty, a punctual attendance on divine service, to implore the blessings of heaven upon the means used for our safety and defence.

George Washington
War, Mean, Army
George Washington, Thomas Francis Bayard (1775). “Specimen pages of a proposed publication of the papers of Washington, Franklin, etc”, p.14

It is our policy to steer clear of permanent alliances with any portion of the foreign world.

George Washington
Peace, Carpe Diem, Alliances
Farewell Address, Philadelphia, Pa., 19 Sept. 1796