George Washington Quotes
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201. “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.”

— George Washington

202. “I have never been a communicant.”

— George Washington

203. “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

204. “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

205. “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

206. “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

207. “The Stamp Act imposed on the colonies by the Parliament of Great Britain is an ill-judged measure. Parliament has no right to put its hands into our pockets without our consent.”

— George Washington

208. “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

209. “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

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

— George Washington

211. “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

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

— George Washington

213. “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

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

— George Washington

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

— George Washington

216. “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

217. “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

218. “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

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

— George Washington

220. “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

221. “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

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

— George Washington

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

— George Washington

224. “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

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

— George Washington

226. “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

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

— George Washington

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

— George Washington

229. “What a triumph for the advocates of despotism to find that we are incapable of governing ourselves, and that systems founded on the basis of equal liberty are merely ideal and fallacious.”

— George Washington

230. “We must take care always to keep ourselves, by suitable establishments, in a respectable defensive posture.”

— George Washington

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

— George Washington

232. “I was summoned by my Country, whose voice I can never hear but with veneration and love.”

— George Washington

233. “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

234. “If we mean to support the liberty and independence which has cost us so much blood and treasure to establish, we must drive far away the demon of party spirit and local reproach.”

— George Washington

235. “No morn ever dawned more favorable than ours did; and no day was every more clouded than the present! Wisdom, and good examples are necessary at this time to rescue the political machine from the impending storm.”

— George Washington

236. “We must take human nature as we find it, perfection falls not to the share of mortals.”

— George Washington

237. “I hate deception, even where the imagination only is concerned.”

— George Washington

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

— George Washington

239. “I consider it an indispensible duty to close this last solemn act of my official life by commending the interests of our dearest country to the protection of Almighty God and those who have the superintendence of them into his Holy keeping.”

— George Washington

240. “Labor to keep alive in your breast that little spark of celestial fire, called conscience.”

— George Washington

241. “Not only do I pray for it, on the score of human dignity, but I can clearly forsee that nothing but the rooting out of slavery can perpetuate the existence of our union, by consolidating it in a common bond of principle.”

— George Washington

242. “The blessed Religion revealed in the word of God will remain an eternal and awful monument to prove that the best Institution may be abused by human depravity; and that they may even, in some instances be made subservient to the vilest purposes.”

— George Washington

243. “Let us therefore animate and encourage each other, and show the whole world that a Freeman, contending for liberty on his own ground, is superior to any slavish mercenary on earth.”

— George Washington

244. “In vain would that man claim the tribute of patriotism who should labor to subvert these great pillars.”

— George Washington

245. “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

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. “We have probably had too good an opinion of human nature in forming our confederation.”

— George Washington

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

— George Washington

249. “There is no practice more dangerous than that of borrowing money.”

— George Washington

250. “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