Top 450 George Washington Quotes (2025 Update)
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201. “One of the expedients of party to acquire influence, within particular districts, is to misrepresent the opinions and aims of other districts.”

— George Washington

202. “A bad war is fought with a good mind.”

— George Washington

203. “It is much easier at all times to prevent an evil than to rectify mistakes.”

— George Washington

204. “To constitute a dispute there must be two parties. To understand it well, both parties and all the circumstances must be fully heard; and to accommodate the differences, temper and mutual forbearance are requisite.”

— George Washington

205. “I will move gently down the stream of life until I sleep with my fathers.”

— George Washington

206. “I can bear to hear of imputed or real errors. The man who wishes to stand well in the opinion of others must do this; because he is thereby enabled to correct his faults, or remove prejudices which are imbibed against him.”

— George Washington

207. “Influence is not government.”

— George Washington

208. “Every post is honourable in which a man can serve his country.”

— George Washington

209. “It is to be lamented that great characters are seldom without a blot.”

— George Washington

210. “I have often expressed my sentiments, that every man, conducting himself as a good citizen, and being accountable to God alone for his religious opinions, ought to be protected in worshipping the Deity according to the dictates of his own conscience.”

— George Washington

211. “May 12-13: Sowed Hemp at Muddy hole by Swamp. August 7: Began to separate the Male from the Female at Do – rather too late.”

— George Washington

212. “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

213. “Experience teaches us that it is much easier to prevent an enemy from posting themselves than it is to dislodge them after they have got possession.”

— George Washington

214. “Among the many interesting objects which will engage your attention that of providing for the common defense will merit particular regard. To be prepared for war is one of the most effectual means of preserving peace.”

— George Washington

215. “I never have to grope for methods. The method is revealed at the moment I am inspired to create something new. Without God to draw aside the curtain I would be helpless.”

— George Washington

216. “To acknowledge the receipt of letters is always proper, to remove doubts of their miscarriage.”

— George Washington

217. “Military arrangement, and movements in consequence, like the mechanism of a clock, will be imperfectand disordered by the want of a part.”

— George Washington

218. “It is easy to make acquaintances, but very difficult to shake them off, however irksome and unprofitable they are found, after we have once committed ourselves to them.”

— George Washington

219. “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

220. “I have never been a communicant.”

— George Washington

221. “The determinations of Providence are always wise, often inscrutable; and, though its decrees appear to bear hard upon us at times, is nevertheless meant for gracious purposes.”

— George Washington

222. “Play not the Peacock, looking everywhere about you, to see if you be well deck’t.”

— George Washington

223. “It is yet to be decided whether the Revolution must ultimately be considered as a blessing or a curse: a blessing or a curse, not to the present age alone, for with our fate will the destiny of unborn millions be involved.”

— George Washington

224. “The marvel of all history is the patience with which men and women submit to burdens unnecessarily laid upon them by their governments.”

— George Washington

225. “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

226. “Do not conceive that fine Clothes make fine Men, any more than fine feathers make fine Birds. A plain genteel dress is more admired and obtains more credit than lace and embroidery in the Eyes of the judicious and sensible.”

— George Washington

227. “As the first of every thing, in our situation will serve to establish a Precedent, it is devoutly wished on my part, that these precedents may be fixed on true principles.”

— George Washington

228. “Paper money will invariably operate in the body of politics as spirit liquors on the human body. They prey on the vitals and ultimately destroy them.”

— George Washington

229. “Be easy and condescending in your deportment to your officers, but not too familiar, lest you subject yourself to a want of respect, which is necessary to support a proper command.”

— George Washington

230. “A half-starved limping government, always moving upon crutches and tottering at every step...”

— George Washington

231. “The best means of forming a manly, virtuous, and happy people will be found in the right education of youth. Without this foundation, every other means, in my opinion, must fail.”

— George Washington

232. “Laws made by common consent must not be trampled on by individuals.”

— George Washington

233. “I had rather be in my grave than in my present situation, I had rather be on my farm than be emperor of the world; and yet they charge me with wanting to be a king.”

— George Washington

234. “The great rule of conduct for us, in regard to foreign nations, is, in extending our commercial relations, to have with them as little political connection as possible.”

— George Washington

235. “A passionate attachment of one nation for another produces a variety of evils.”

— George Washington

236. “Serious misfortunes, originating in misrepresentation, frequently flow and spread before they can be dissipated by truth.”

— George Washington

237. “It is impossible to reason without arriving at a Supreme Being. Religion is as necessary to reason, as reason is to religion.”

— George Washington

238. “The executive branch of this government never has, nor will suffer, while I preside, any improper conduct of its officers to escape with impunity.”

— George Washington

239. “If they are good workmen, they may be of Asia, Africa, or Europe. They may be Mohometans, Jews or Christians of any Sect, or they may be Atheists.”

— George Washington

240. “I dare say the men would fight very well if properly officered, although they are an exceedingly dirty and nasty people.”

— George Washington

241. “To place any dependence upon militia, is, assuredly, resting upon a broken staff.”

— George Washington

242. “Sleep not when others speak, sit not when others stand, speak not when you should hold your peace, walk not when others stop.”

— George Washington

243. “Without a humble imitation of the divine Author of our blessed religion we can never hope to be a happy nation.”

— George Washington

244. “System to all things is the soul of business. To execute properly and act maturely is the way to conduct it to your advantage.”

— George Washington

245. “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

246. “It is impossible to account for the creation of the universe, without the agency of a Supreme Being. It is impossible to govern the universe without the aid of a Supreme Being. It is impossible to reason without arriving at a Supreme Being.”

— George Washington

247. “Let your countenance be pleasant, but in serious matters let it be somewhat grave.”

— George Washington

248. “Liberty, when it begins to take root, is a plant of rapid growth.”

— George Washington

249. “The foundation of our Empire was not laid in the gloomy age of Ignorance and Superstition, but at an Epoch when the rights of mankind were better understood and more clearly defined, than at any former period.”

— George Washington

250. “The value of liberty was thus enhanced in our estimation by the difficulty of its attainment, and the worth of characters appreciated by the trial of adversity.”

— George Washington