George Washington - The writings of George Washington (1799)

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It is now no more that toleration is spoken of, as if it was by the indulgence of one class of people that another enjoyed the exercise of their inherent natural rights.

George Washington
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
Thirteen sovereignties pulling against each other and all tugging at the federal head, will soon bring ruin on the whole.

George Washington
Without virtue, and without integrity, the finest talents and the most brilliant accomplishments can never gain the respect, and conciliate the esteem, of the truly valuable part of mankind.

George Washington
The most certain way to make a man your enemy is to tell him you esteem him such.

George Washington
Even respectable characters speak of a monarchical form of government without horror.

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
I earnestly pray that the Omnipotent Being who has not deserted the cause of America in the hour of its extremest hazard, will never yield so fair a heritage of freedom a prey to 'Anarchy' or 'Despotism'.

George Washington
It is an old adage that honesty is the best policy-this applies to public as well as private life-to States as well as individuals.

George Washington
The Arts and Sciences, essential to the prosperity of the State and to the ornament of human life, have a primary claim to the encouragement of every lover of his country and mankind.

George Washington
Offensive operations, often times, is the surest, if not the only means of defence.

George Washington
I wish to walk in such a line as will give most general satisfaction.

George Washington
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
To me, it appears no unjust simile to compare the affairs of this great Continent to the mechanism of a clock, each state representing some one or other of the smaller parts of it which they are endeavoring to put in fine order without considering how useless & unavailing their labor is unless the great Wheel or Spring which is to set the whole in motion is also well attended to & kept in good order.

George Washington
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
I am just going. Have me decently buried; and do not let my body be put into the Vault in less than three days after I am dead.... Tis well.

George Washington
Though, when a people shall have become incapable of governing themselves and fit for a master, it is of little consequence from what quarter he comes.

George Washington
The company in which you will improve most will be least expensive to you.

George Washington
I consider it an indubitable mark of mean-spiritedness and pitiful vanity to court applause from the pen or tongue of man.

George Washington
The best and only safe road to honor, glory, and true dignity is justice.

George Washington
I am not only retired from all public employments, but I am retiring within myself, and shall be able to view the solitary walk and tread the paths of private life with heartfelt satisfaction.

George Washington
It is among the evils, and perhaps not the smallest, of democratical 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 so slow.

George Washington
It is not the mere study of the Law, but to become eminent in the profession of it, which is to yield honor and profit.

George Washington
The views of men can only be known, or guessed at, by their words or actions.

George Washington
In the appointments to the great offices of the government, my aim has been to combine geographical situation, and sometimes other considerations, with abilities and fitness of known characters.

George Washington
The true distinction... between what is called a fine Regiment, and an indifferent one will ever, upon investigation, be found to originate in, and depend upon the care, or the inattention, of the Officers belonging to them.

George Washington
Our conflict is not likely to cease so soon as every good man would wish. The measure of iniquity is not yet filled; and unless we can return a little more to first principles, and act a little more upon patriotic ground, I do not know when it will...

George Washington
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
The eyes of all our countrymen are now upon us, and we shall have their blessings and praises, if happily we are the instruments of saving them from the tyranny meditated against them.

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

George Washington