It is impossible to rightly govern a nation without God and the Bible.
– George Washington
Government | God | The Bible
Let us with caution indulge the supposition that morality can be maintained without religion. Reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle.
– George Washington
Morality | Religion
It is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor.
– George Washington
Government | God | Providence
The foolish and wicked practice of profane cursing and swearing is a vice so mean and low that every person of sense and character detests and despises it.
– George Washington
Virtue | Foolishness
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 slavery.
– George Washington
Conscience
Associate yourself with men of good quality if you esteem your own reputation. It is better be alone than in bad company.
– George Washington
Friendship | Character | Men
Be courteous to all, but intimate with few, and let those few be well tried before you give them your confidence.
– George Washington
Friendship
Someday, following the example of the United States of America, there will be a United States of Europe.
– George Washington
Government | America
Actions, not words, are the true criterion of the attachment of friends.
– George Washington
Friendship | Examples
Providence has at all times been my only dependence, for all other resources seemed to have failed us.
– George Washington
God | Providence
The time is near at hand which must determine whether Americans are to be free men or slaves.
– George Washington
America | Freedom
To be prepared for war is one of the most effective means of preserving peace.
– George Washington
War | Peace
The consideration that human happiness and moral duty are inseparably connected will always continue to prompt me to promote the former by inculcating the practice of the latter.
– George Washington
Happiness | Morality
Labor to keep alive in your breast that little spark of celestial fire, called conscience.
– George Washington
Conscience | Fire
The very idea of the power and right of the people to establish government presupposes the duty of every individual to obey the established government.
– George Washington
Government | Power
Few men have virtue to withstand the highest bidder.
– George Washington
Virtue | Men
There is a natural and necessary progression, from the extreme of anarchy to the extreme of tyranny; and arbitrary power is most easily established on the ruins of liberty abused to licentiousness.
– George Washington
Government
We should not look back unless it is to derive useful lessons from past errors, and for the purpose of profiting by dearly bought experience.
– George Washington
History
In a free and republican government, you cannot restrain the voice of the multitude. Every man will speak as he thinks, or, more properly, without thinking, and consequently will judge of effects without attending to their causes.
– George Washington
Government | Freedom
There is an opinion that parties in free countries are useful checks upon the administration of the government, and serve to keep alive the spirit of liberty. This, within certain limits, is probably true. But in governments of a popular character, and purely elective, it is a spirit not to be encouraged. From their natural tendency, there will always be enough of that spirit for every salutary purpose. And there being constant danger of excess, the effort ought to be, by force of public opinion, to mitigate and assuage it. A fire not to be quenched, it demands a uniform vigilance to prevent it bursting into a flame, lest, instead of warming, it should consume.
– George Washington
Government | Politics | Liberty
I have no other view than to promote the public good, and am unambitious of honors not founded in the approbation of my Country.
– George Washington
Government
The basis of our political system is the right of the people to make and to alter their constitutions of government.
– George Washington
Government
Such is the turbulence of human passions in party disputes, when victory more than truth is contended for, that the post of honor is a private station.
– George Washington
Politics | Truth | Victory
If we mean to support the liberty and independence which have cost us so much blood and treasure to establish, we must drive far away the demon of party spirit and local reproach.
– George Washington
Politics | Liberty
It is to be lamented that great characters are seldom without a blot.
– George Washington
Character
Observe good faith and justice toward all nations. Cultivate peace and harmony with all.
– George Washington
Peace
I walk on untrodden ground. There is scarcely any part of my conduct which may not hereafter be drawn into precedent.
– George Washington
Reasoning
Heaven itself has ordained the right.
– George Washington
Heaven
No people can be bound to acknowledge and adore the Invisible Hand which conducts the affairs of men, more than the people of the United States. Every step by which they have advanced to the character of an independent nation seems to have been distinguished by some token of Providential agency.
– George Washington
Government | God
Republicanism is not the phantom of a deluded imagination. On the contrary, under no form of government are laws better supported, liberty and property better secured, or happiness more effectually dispensed to mankind.
– George Washington
Government | Happiness | Liberty
He must be worse than an infidel that lacks faith and more than wicked that has not gratitude enough to acknowledge his obligation.
– George Washington
Faith | Gratitude
Worry is the interest paid by those who borrow trouble.
– George Washington
Worry
It will be found an unjust and unwise jealousy to deprive a man of his natural liberty upon the supposition he may abuse it.
– George Washington
Government | Jealousy | Liberty
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
Government
Guard against the impostures of pretended patriotism.
– George Washington
Government | Patriotism
Bad seed is a robbery of the worst kind: for your pocket-book not only suffers by it, but your preparations are lost and a season passes away unimproved.
– George Washington
Morality
Lenience will operate with greater force, in some instances than rigor. It is therefore my first wish to have all of my conduct distinguished by it.
– George Washington
Compassion
My observation is that whenever one person is found adequate to the discharge of a duty. it is worse executed by two persons, and scarcely done at all if three or more are employed therein.
– George Washington
Character
Government is not reason; it is not eloquent; it is force. Like fire, it is a dangerous servant and a fearful master.
– George Washington
Government
Undertake not what you cannot perform but be careful to keep your promise.
– George Washington
Character
It may be laid down as a primary position, and the basis of our system, that every Citizen who enjoys the protection of a Free Government owes not only a proportion of his property, but even of his personal services to the defense of it.
– George Washington
Government
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
WarEnemies
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.
– George Washington
Government | Feelings
I hope I shall possess firmness and virtue enough to maintain what I consider the most enviable of all titles, the character of an honest man.
– George Washington
VirtueHonesty
Nothing can be more hurtful to the service, than the neglect of discipline; for that discipline, more than numbers, gives one army the superiority over another.
– George Washington
Obedience | Discipline | War
There can be no greater error than to expect, or calculate, upon real favors from nation to nation. It is an illusion which experience must cure, which a just pride ought to discard.
– George Washington
Politics
Interwoven is the love of liberty with every ligament of the heart.
– George Washington
Life | The Heart | Liberty
The aggregate happiness of society, which is best promoted by the practice of a virtuous policy, is, or ought to be, the end of all government.
– George Washington
Government | Virtue | Happiness
Gambling is the child of avarice, the brother of iniquity, and the father of mischief.
– George Washington
Virtue
We must never despair; our situation has been compromising before, and it has changed for the better; so I trust it will again. If difficulties arise, we must put forth new exertion and proportion our efforts to the exigencies of the times.
– George Washington
Perseverance | Anxiety
‘Tis our true policy to steer clear of permanent alliances, with any portion of the foreign world – as far, I mean, as we are now at liberty to do it.
– George Washington
Government
There is no restraining men’s tongues or pens when charged with a little vanity.
– George Washington
Justice | The Tongue | Men
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
Friendship | Adversity
Religion is as necessary to reason as reason is to religion: The one cannot exist without the other. A reasoning being would lose his reason, in attempting to account for the great phenomena of nature, had he not a Supreme Being to refer to; and well has it been said, that if there had been no God, mankind would have been obliged to imagine one.
– George Washington
Religion | Reasoning
Providence has done, and I am persuaded is disposed to do, a great deal for us; but we are not to forget the fable of Jupiter and the countryman.
– George Washington
God | Providence
Discipline is the soul of an army. It makes small numbers formidable; procures success to the weak, and esteem to all.
– George Washington
War | Discipline
By the all-powerful dispensations of Providence I have been protected beyond all human probability or expectation; for I had four bullets through my coat, and two horses shot under me yet escaped unhurt, although death was leveling my companions on every side of me!
– George Washington
Providence
Firearms are second only to the Constitution in importance; they are the peoples’ liberty’s teeth.
– George Washington
Government | Liberty
My first wish is to see this plague of mankind, war, banished from the earth.
– George Washington
War
Laws made by common consent must not be trampled on by individuals.
– George Washington
Government
Over grown military establishments are under any form of government inauspicious to liberty, and are to be regarded as particularly hostile to republican liberty.
– George Washington
Government | Liberty
The administration of justice is the firmest pillar of government.
– George Washington
Government | Justice
When we assumed the Soldier, we did not lay aside the Citizen.
– George Washington
History
While just government protects all in their religious rites, true religion affords government its surest support.
– George Washington
Government
Truth will ultimately prevail where there is pains to bring it to light.
– George Washington
Truth
Let your heart feel for the afflictions and distress of everyone, and let your hand give in proportion to your purse.
– George Washington
Affliction | Charity | The Heart
My mother was the most beautiful woman I ever saw. All I am I owe to my mother. I attribute all my success in life to the moral, intellectual and physical education I received from her.
– George Washington
Mothers
It is better to offer no excuse than a bad one.
– George Washington
Honesty
To persevere in one’s duty and be silent is the best answer to calumny.
– George Washington
Perseverance
A reputation once broken may possibly be repaired, but the world will always keep their eyes on the spot where the crack was.
– George Washington
Character
Let your discourse with men of business be short and comprehensive.
– George Washington
Philosophy | Business
If the freedom of speech is taken away then dumb and silent we may be led, like sheep to the slaughter.
– George Washington
Politics | Freedom
I beg leave to assure the Congress that no pecuniary consideration could have tempted me to accept this arduous employment at the expense of my domestic ease and happiness. I do not wish to make any profit from it.
– George Washington
Politics
Of all the dispositions and habits which lead top political prosperity, Religion and Morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man claim the tribute of Patriotism, who should labor to subvert these great Pillars?
– George Washington
Government | Morality | Patriotism
Mankind, when left to themselves, are unfit for their own government.
– George Washington
Government
The Constitution is the guide which I never will abandon.
– George Washington
Government
Government is not mere advice; it is authority, with power to enforce its laws.
– George Washington
Government | Authority
The constitution vests the power of declaring war in Congress; therefore no offensive expedition of importance can be undertaken until after they shall have deliberated upon the subject and authorized such a measure.
– George Washington
Politics | Government
Let us raise a standard to which the wise and honest can repair; the rest is in the hands of God.
– George Washington
Government
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
Peace | War | Prosperity
War – An act of violence whose object is to constrain the enemy, to accomplish our will.
– George Washington
War | Enemies
It is among the evils, and perhaps not the smallest, of democratic governments, that the people must feel before they will see. When this happens, they are roused to action. Hence it is that those kinds of government are too slow.
– George Washington
Government
It is far better to be alone, than to be in bad company.
– George Washington
Friendship
A slender acquaintance with the world must convince every man that actions, not words, are the true criterion of the attachment of friends.
– George Washington
Friendship
Government is not reason, it is not eloquence – it is force.
– George Washington
Government
Liberty, when it begins to take root, is a plant of rapid growth.
– George Washington
Life | Growth | Liberty
I shall never ask, never refuse, nor ever resign an office.
– George Washington
Perseverance
The very atmosphere of firearms anywhere and everywhere restrains evil interference – they deserve a place of honor with all that’s good.
– George Washington
Government