Quotes by George Washington

War - An act of violence whose object is to constrain the enemy, to accomplish our will.

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 public happiness.

Happiness and moral duty are inseparably connected.

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.

The time is near at hand which must determine whether Americans are to be free men or slaves.

Observe good faith and justice toward all nations. Cultivate peace and harmony with all.

Associate with men of good quality if you esteem your own reputation for it is better to be alone than in bad company.

Let us raise a standard to which the wise and honest can repair the rest is in the hands of God.

Guard against the impostures of pretended patriotism.

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.

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.

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.

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

It will be found an unjust and unwise jealousy to deprive a man of his natural liberty upon the supposition he may abuse it.

True friendship is a plant of slow growth, and must undergo and withstand the shocks of adversity, before it is entitled to the appellation.

Be courteous to all, but intimate with few, and let those few be well tried before you give them your confidence.

Friendship is a plant of slow growth and must undergo and withstand the shocks of adversity before it is entitled to the appellation.

Mankind, when left to themselves, are unfit for their own government.

The basis of our political system is the right of the people to make and to alter their constitutions of government.

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.