George Washington Quotes

Enjoy the top 655 famous quotes, sayings and quotations by George Washington.

“Be Americans. Let there be no sectionalism, no North, South, East or West. You are all dependent on one another and should be one in union. In one word, be a nation. Be Americans, and be true to yourselves.”
— George Washington —

A primary object should be the education of our youth in the science of government. In a republic, what species of knowledge can be equally important? And what duty more pressing than communicating it to those who are to be the future guardians of the liberties of the country?

— George Washington

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

— George Washington

Happiness depends more upon the internal frame of a person's own mind, than on the externals in the world.

— George Washington

“Gentlemen, you will permit me to put on my spectacles, for, I have grown not only gray, but almost blind in the service of my country.
- March 15, 1783”

— George Washington

Religious controversies are always productive of more acrimony and irreconcilable hatreds than those which spring from any other cause. I had hoped that liberal and enlightened thought would have reconciled the Christians so that their religious fights would not endanger the peace of Society.

— George Washington

“If Christ were here now there is one thing he would not be
a Christian. Samuel Clemens "Mark Twain", American author and humorist”

— George Washington

“I can truly say I had rather be a Mount Vernon than to be attended at the Seat of Government by the Officers of State and the Representatives of every Power in Europe.”

— George Washington

“Being no bigot myself to any mode of worship, I am disposed to endulge the professors of Christianity in the church, that road to heaven which to them shall seem the most direct plainest easiest and least liable to exception.”

— George Washington

“I walk on untrodden ground. There is scarcely any part of my conduct which may not hereafter be drawn into precedent.”

— George Washington

“Mankind, when left to themselves, are unfit for their own government.”

— George Washington

“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 it - but there is only one proper and effectual mode by which it can be accomplished, and that is by Legislative authority: and this, as far as my suffrage will go, shall never be wanting.”

— George Washington

“In a free and republican government, you cannot restrain the voice of the multitude.”

— George Washington

All I am, I owe to my mother.

— George Washington

“If, in the opinion of the people, the distribution or modification of the constitutional powers be in any particular wrong, let it be corrected by an amendment in the way which the Constitution designates. But let there be no change by usurpation; for though this, in one instance, may be the instrument of good, it is the customary weapon by which free governments are destroyed.”

— George Washington

“No compact among men ... can be pronounced everlasting and inviolable, and if I may so express myself, that no Wall of words, that no mound of parchment can be so formed as to stand against the sweeping torrent of boundless ambition on the one side, aided by the sapping current of corrupted morals on the other.”

— George Washington

“Of all the animosities which have existed among mankind, those which are caused by a difference of sentiments in religion appear to be the most inveterate and distressing, and ought to be deprecated. I was in hopes that the enlightened and liberal policy, which has marked the present age, would at least have reconciled Christians of every denomination so far that we should never again see the religious disputes carried to such a pitch as to endanger the peace of society.”

— George Washington

“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

“Providence has at all times been my only dependence, for all other resources seemed to have failed us.”

— George Washington

“There is but one straight course, and that is to seek truth and pursue it steadily”

— George Washington

“Peace with all the world is my sincere wish. I am sure it is our true policy, and am persuaded it is the ardent desire of the government.”

— George Washington

Letters of friendship require no study.

— George Washington

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

— George Washington

I cannot tell a lie. I cut down the cherry tree.

— George Washington

Be Americans. Let there be no sectionalism, no North, South, East or West. You are all dependent on one another and should be one in union. In one word, be a nation. Be Americans, and be true to yourselves.

— George Washington

“Bless my family, kindred, friends and country, be our God and guide this day and forever for His sake, who lay down in the grave and arose again for us, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.”

— George Washington

“I wish to see the sons and daughters of the world in Peace and busily employed in the more agreeable amusement of fulfilling the first and great commandment, Increase and Multiply : as an encouragement to which we have opened the fertile plains of the Ohio to the poor, the needy and the oppressed of the Earth; any one therefore who is heavy laden, or who wants land to cultivate, may repair thither and abound, as in the Land of promise, with milk and honey: the ways are preparing, and the roads will be made easy, thro' the channels of Potomac and James river.”

— George Washington

While I reiterate the professions of my dependence upon Heaven ... I will observe that ... no man who is profligate in his morals ... can possibly be a true Christian.

— George Washington

“Unwilling am I, in the evening of a life nearly consumed in public cares, to quit a peaceful abode for an Ocean of difficulties”

— George Washington

“America ... has ever had, and I trust she ever will have, my honest exertions to promote her interest. I cannot hope that my services have been the best; but my heart tells me they have been the best that I could render.”

— George Washington

“Influence is not government.”

— George Washington

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

— George Washington

“The thinking part of mankind do not form their judgment from events; and their equity will ever attach equal glory to those actions which deserve success, and those which have been crowned with it.”

— George Washington

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

“Now therefore I do recommend and assign Thursday the 26th day of November next to be devoted by the People of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be.”

— George Washington

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

“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

“Let vice and immorality of every kind be discouraged as much as possible in your brigade; and, as a chaplain is allowed to each regiment, see that the men regularly attend during worship. Gaming of every kind is expressly forbidden, as being the foundation of evil, and the cause of many a brave and gallant officer's and soldier's ruin.”

— George Washington

“It gives me real concern to observe ... that you should think it necessary to distinguish between my personal and public character, and confine your esteem to the former.”

— George Washington

I am for free commerce with all nations; political connection with none; and little or no diplomatic establishment

— George Washington

“Freemasonry is founded on the immutable laws of Truth and Justice and its grand object is to promote the happiness of the human race.”

— George Washington

The aggregate happiness of the society, which is best promoted by the practice of a virtuous policy, is, or ought to be, the end of all government ...

— George Washington

The crisis is arrived when we must assert our rights, or submit to every imposition, that can be heaped upon us, till custom and use shall make us as tame and abject slaves, as the blacks we rule over with such arbitrary sway.

— George Washington

“Alas! Our dancing days are no more. We wish, however, all those who have a relish for so agreeable and innocent an amusement all the pleasure the season will afford them.”

— George Washington

I die hard but am not afraid to go.

— George Washington

“Let me live according to those holy rules which Thou hast this day prescribed in Thy Holy Word ... direct me to the true object, Jesus Christ, the way, the truth, and the life. Bless, O Lord, all the people of this land.”

— George Washington

“I am now ... on a subject, which fills me with inexpressible concern ... But as it has been a kind of destiny, that has thrown me upon this service, I shall hope that my undertaking it is designed to answer some good purpose.”

— George Washington

I have never been a communicant.

— George Washington

“I never mean, unless some particular circumstances should compel it, to possess another slave by purchase, it being among my first wishes to see some plan adopted, by which slavery in this country may be abolished by law.”