Authors:

George Washington Quotes about Honesty

Few men have virtue to withstand the highest bidder.

Few men have virtue to withstand the highest bidder.

George Washington, Jared Sparks (1834). “The Writings of George Washington: Being His Correspondence, Addresses, Messages, and Other Papers, Official and Private, Selected and Published from the Original Manuscripts”, p.324

It is better to offer no excuse than a bad one.

George Washington, Jared Sparks (1839). “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”, p.201

Honesty is always the best policy.

George Washington, John Jay, Jared Sparks (1850). “Washington's Farewell Address to the People of the United States of America”, p.46, New York : J. Wiley

It is an old adage that honesty is the best policy-this applies to public as well as private life-to States as well as individuals.

George Washington, Jared Sparks (1847). “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.146

I hold the maxim no less applicable to public than to private affairs, that honesty is always the best policy.

George Washington (1810). “Washington's Farewell Address to the People of the United States”, p.16

Honesty will be found on every experiment, to be the best and only true policy; let us then as a Nation be just.

George Washington, J. M. Williams (1800). “Washington's political legacies: To which is annexed an appendix, containing an account of his illness, death, and the national tributes of respect paid to his memory, with a biographical outline of his life and character”, p.26