WIST

It will be worthy of a free, enlightened, and, at no distant period, a great nation, to give to mankind the magnanimous and too novel example of a People always guided by an exalted justice and benevolence.

George Washington (1732-1799) US President, military leader
“Farewell Address” (17 Sep 1796)

It is important, likewise, that the habits of thinking in a free Country should inspire caution in those entrusted with its administration, to confine themselves within their respective Constitutional Spheres; avoiding in the exercise of the Powers of one department to encroach upon another.

George Washington (1732-1799) US President, military leader
“Farewell Address” (17 Sep 1796)
Full address

The basis of our political systems is the right of the people make and alter their constitutions of government. But the constitution which at any time exists, until changed by an explicit and authentic act of the whole people, is sacredly obligatory upon all.

George Washington (1732-1799) US President, military leader
“Farewell Address” (17 Sep 1796)

The very idea of the power and the right of the People to establish Government presupposes the duty of every Individual to obey the established Government.

George Washington (1732-1799) US President, military leader
“Farewell Address” (17 Sep 1796)

They will avoid the necessity of those overgrown Military establishments which, under any form of government, are inauspicious to liberty, and which are to be regarded as particularly hostile to Republican Liberty.

George Washington (1732-1799) US President, military leader
“Farewell Address” (17 Sep 1796)

It is now no more that toleration is spoken of as if it were the indulgence of one class of people that another enjoyed the exercise of their inherent natural rights, for, happily, the Government of the United States, which gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance, requires only that they who live under its protection should demean themselves as good citizens in giving it on all occasions their effectual support.

George Washington (1732-1799) US President, military leader
“Letter to the Hebrew Congregation at Newport,” Rhode Island (17 Aug 1790)
Full text.

The bosom of America is open to receive not only the Opulent and respectable Stranger, but the oppressed and persecuted of all Nations And Religions; whom we shall wellcome to a participation of all our rights and previleges, if by decency and propriety of conduct they appear to merit the enjoyment.

George Washington (1732-1799) US President, military leader
“Letter to the members of the Volunteer Association and other Inhabitants of the Kingdom of Ireland who have lately arrived in the City of New York” (2 Dec 1783)

Discipline is the soul of an army. It makes small numbers formidable; promises successes to the weak, and esteem to all.

George Washington (1732-1799) US President, military leader
(Attributed)

Government is not reason, it is not eloquence, it is force; like fire, a troublesome servant and a fearful master. Never for a moment should it be left to irresponsible action.

George Washington (1732-1799) US President, military leader
(Attributed)

Unsourced. First attributed to "The First President of the United States" in "Liberty and Government" by W. M., in The Christian Science Journal (Nov 1902) ed. Mary Baker Eddy.

Variant: "Government is not reason, it is not eloquence — it is force! Like fire, it is a dangerous servant and a fearful master. Never for a moment should it be left to irresponsible action."

Truth will ultimately prevail where there is pains to bring it to light.

George Washington (1732-1799) US President, military leader
(Attributed)

There is a rank due to the United States, among nations, which will be withheld, if not absolutely lost, by the reputation of weakness. If we desire to avoid insult, we must be able to repel it; if we desire to secure peace, one of the most powerful instruments of our rising prosperity, it must be known that we are at all times ready for war.

George Washington (1732-1799) US President, military leader
The Federalist Papers

When a man does all he can though it Succeeds not well, blame not him that did it.

George Washington (1732-1799) US President, military leader
Copybook (1748)
From Rules of Civility & Decent Behaviour in Company and Conversation, #44, an update of Decency of Conversation Among Men by French Jesuits (1595) [tr. Hawkins (1640)].

Timely disbursements to prepare for danger frequently prevent much greater disbursements to repel it.

George Washington (1732-1799) US President, military leader
Farewell Address (17 Sep 1796)

Should, hereafter, those incited by the lust of power and prompted by the Supineness or venality of their Constituents, overleap the known barriers of this Constitution and violate the unalienable rights of humanity: it will only serve to shew, that no compact among men (however provident in its construction and sacred in its ratification) can be pronounced everlasting and inviolable, and if I may so express myself, that no Wall of words, that no mound of parchm[en]t can be so formed as to stand against the sweeping torrent of boundless ambition on the side, aided by the sapping current of corrupted morals on the other.

George Washington (1732-1799) US President, military leader
First Inaugural Address, draft (Apr 1789)

Do not conceive that fine Clothes make fine Men, any more than fine feathers make fine Birds.

George Washington (1732-1799) US President, military leader
Letter to Bushrod Washington (15 Jan 1783)

[Gambling] is the child of Avarice, the brother of Iniquity, and father of Mischief.

George Washington (1732-1799) US President, military leader
Letter to Bushrod Washington (15 Jan 1783)

Be courteous to all, but intimate with few, and let those few be well tried before you give them your confidence. True friendship is a plant of slow growth, and must undergo and withstand the shocks of adversity before it is entitled to the appellation.

George Washington (1732-1799) US President, military leader
Letter to Bushrod Washington (15 Jan 1783)

While we are contending for our own Liberty, we should be very cautious of violating the Rights of Conscience in others, ever considering that God alone is the Judge of the Hearts of Men, and to him only in this Case, they are answerable.

George Washington (1732-1799) US President, military leader
Letter to Col. Benedict Arnold (14 Sep. 1775)

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 (1732-1799) US President, military leader
Letter to Comte de Moustier (1 Nov 1790)

To persevere in one’s duty and be silent is the best answer to calumny.

George Washington (1732-1799) US President, military leader
Letter to Gov. William Livingston (7 Dec 1779)

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

George Washington (1732-1799) US President, military leader
Letter to Harriet Washington (30 Oct 1791)

Though I prize, as I ought, the good opinion of my fellow citizens; yet, if I know myself, I would not seek or retain popularity at the expense of one social duty or moral virtue.

George Washington (1732-1799) US President, military leader
Letter to Henry “Light-Horse Harry” Lee (22 Sep 1788)

Integrity and firmness is all I can promise; these, be the voyage long or short, never shall forsake me although I may be deserted by all men. For of the consolations which are to be derived from these (under any circumstances) the world cannot deprive me.

George Washington (1732-1799) US President, military leader
Letter to Henry Knox (1 Apr 1789)
Written four weeks before assuming the Presidency.

My movements to the chair of Government will be accompanied by feelings not unlike those of a culprit, who is going to the place of his execution: so unwilling am I, in the evening of a life nearly consumed in public cares, to quit a peaceful abode for an Ocean of difficulties, without that competency of political skill, abilities, and inclination, which is necessary to manage the helm.

George Washington (1732-1799) US President, military leader
Letter to Henry Knox (1 Apr 1789)
To the Acting Secretary of War, just prior to Washington's assuming the Presidency.

To trust altogether in the justice of our cause, without our own utmost exertions, would be tempting Providence.

George Washington (1732-1799) US President, military leader
Letter to Jonathan Trumbull (7 Aug 1776)

There is nothing which can better deserve your patronage, than the promotion of Science and Literature. Knowledge is in every country the surest basis of publick happiness.

George Washington (1732-1799) US President, military leader
State of the Union (8 Jan 1790)