George Washington Quotes - Page 17

• Houses of Congress have . . . requested me to recommend to the people of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer, to be observed by acknowledging, with grateful hearts, the many signal favors of Almighty God.

  George Washington

  Thanksgiving, God, Prayer

  George Washington (1837). “The Writings of George Washington: pt. V. Speeches and messages to Congress, proclamations, and addresses”, p.119

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• It is too probable that no plan we propose will be adopted. Perhaps another dreadful conflict is to be sustained. If, to please the people, we offer what we ourselves disprove, how can we afterwards defend our work? Let us raise a standard to which the wise and the honest can repair. The event is in the hand of God.

  George Washington

  Wise, Hands, People

  Speech at Constitutional Convention, Philadelphia, Pa., 14 May 1787

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• The foundation of our national policy will be laid in the pure and immutable principle of private morality.

  George Washington

  Foundation, Principles, Politics

  George Washington (1855). “Maxims of Washington: Political, Social, Moral, and Religious”, p.277

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• It gives me real concern to observe ... that you should think it necessary to distinguish between my personal and public character, and confine your esteem to the former.

  George Washington

  Real, Character, Thinking

  George Washington, Jared Sparks (1834). “Writings: Being His Correspondence, Addresses, Messages, and Other Papers, Official and Private, Selected and Published from the Original Manuscripts”, p.96

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• In a word, if this country can steer clear of European politics, stand firm on its bottom, and be wise and temperate in its government, it bids fair to be one of the greatest and happiest nations in the world.

  George Washington

  Wise, Country, Government

  George Washington (1852). “The life of General Washington: first president of the United States”, p.271

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• 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

  Yield, America, Hazards

  George Washington, Jared Sparks (1835). “The Writings of George Washington: Being His Correspondence, Addresses, Messages, and Other Papers, Official and Private”, p.406

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• A woman ... all beautiful and accomplished will, while her hand and heart are undisposed of, turn the heads and set the circle in which she moves on fire. Let her marry, and what is the consequence? The madness ceases and all is quiet again. Why? Not because there is any diminution in the charms of the lady, but because there is an end of hope.

  George Washington

  Marriage, Beautiful, Moving

  George Washington (1908). “Letters and Addresses,”

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• When it was reported to General Washington that the army was frequently indulging in swearing, he immediately sent out the following order: The general is sorry to be informed that the foolish and wicked practice of profane cursing and swearing - a vice little known heretofore in the American army - is growing into fashion. Let the men and officers reflect "that we can not hope for the blessing of heaven on our army if we insult it by our impiety and folly."

  George Washington

  Fashion, Sorry, Army

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• Precedents are dangerous things; let the rein of government then be braced and held with a steady hand.

  George Washington

  Hands, Government, Precedent

  George Washington (1852). “The life of General Washington: first president of the United States”, p.142

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• I am very glad to hear that the Gardener has saved so much of the St foin seed, & that of the India Hemp. Make the most you can of both, by sowing them again in drills... Let the ground be well prepared, and the Seed (St foin) be sown in April. The Hemp may be sown any where.

  George Washington

  Marijuana, India, Sowing

  George Washington's Letter to William Pearce, founders.archives.gov. February 24, 1794.

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

  George Washington

  Defense, Care, Establishment

  George Washington, Andrew Jackson (1862). “Washington's Farewell Address: The Proclamation of Jackson Against Nullification, and the Declaration of Independence”, p.11

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• The tribute that is due to the talents, the rectitude, and the patriotism which adorn the characters selected to devise and adopt them. In these honorable qualifications, I behold the surest pledges, that as on one side, no local prejudices, or attachments; no seperate views, nor party animosities, will misdirect the comprehensive and equal eye which ought to watch over this great assemblage of communities and interests: so, on another, that the foundations of our National policy will be laid in the pure and immutable principles of private morality...

  George Washington

  Party, Character, Eye

  George Washington's Inaugural Address, www.archives.gov. April 30, 1789.

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• Religious controversies are always productive of more acrimony and irreconcilable hatreds than those which spring from any other cause.

  George Washington

  Religious, Spring, Hatred

  George Washington, John Clement Fitzpatrick, David Maydole Matteson (1792). “The Writings of George Washington from the Original Manuscript Sources, 1745-1799”

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• I now make it my earnest prayer, that God would have you, and the State over which you preside, in his holy protection... and finally, that he would most graciously be pleased to dispose us all to do justice, to love mercy, and to demean ourselves with that charity, humility, and pacifick temper of the mind, which were the characteristicks of the divine Author of our blessed religion ; without an humble imitation of whose example, in these things, we can never hope to be a happy Nation.

  George Washington

  Blessed, Humble, Imitation

  Circular Letter to the Governours of the several States, June 18, 1783.

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• What was done with the seed saved from the India Hemp last summer? It ought, all of it, to have been sewn again; that not only a stock of seed sufficient for my own purposes might have been raised, but to have disseminated the seed to others; as it is more valuable than the common Hemp.

  George Washington

  Summer, Marijuana, Hemp

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• The fundamental principle of our constitution ... enjoins the sense of command, duty that the will of the majority shall prevail.

  George Washington

  Majority, Principles, Fundamentals

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• 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

  Blessed, Purpose, May

  George Washington, Dorothy Twohig, William Wright Abbot (1987). “The Papers of George Washington: April-June 1789”

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• No country upon earth ever had it more in its power to attain these blessings than United America. Wondrously strange, then, and much to be regretted indeed would it be, were we to neglect the means and to depart from the road which Providence has pointed us to so plainly; I cannot believe it will ever come to pass.

  George Washington

  Country, Believe, Mean

  George Washington (1852). “The life of General Washington: first president of the United States”, p.155

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• Working on your biceps? Try chopping down a cherry tree.

  George Washington

  Fitness, Presidential, Tree

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• But lest some unlucky event should happen unfavorable to my reputation, I beg it may be remembered by every gentleman in the room that I this day declare with the utmost sincerity, I do not think myself equal to the command I am honored with.

  George Washington

  Thinking, Gentleman, Events

  George Washington (1852). “The life of General Washington: first president of the United States”, p.121

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• I can never think of promoting my convenience at the expense of a friend's interest and inclination.

  George Washington

  Friendship, Thinking, Convenience

  George Washington (1855). “Maxims of Washington: Political, Social, Moral, and Religious”, p.310

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• 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-or-what may be the issue of the contest. Speculation-peculation-engrossing-forestalling-with all their concomitants, afford too many melancholy proofs of the decay of public virtue; and too glaring instances of its being the interest and desire of too many, who would wish to be thought friends, to continue the war.

  George Washington

  War, Patriotic, Men

  George Washington, John Clement Fitzpatrick, David Maydole Matteson, United States George Washington Bicentennial Commission (1779). “The Writings of George Washington from the Original Manuscript Sources, 1745-1799”, p.312

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• [It] is the juvenal period of life when friendships are formed, and habits established, that will stick by one.

  George Washington

  Friendship, Sticks, Youth

  George Washington, David Maydole Matteson, United States George Washington Bicentennial Commission (1931). “The writings of George Washington from the original manuscript sources, 1745-1799”

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• 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

  August, Males, Female

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• The Commander in Chief directs that Divine service be performed every Sunday at 11 o'clock...It is expected that officers of all ranks will by their attendance set an example to their men.

  George Washington

  Sunday, Men, Example

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