George Washington Quotes
15 quotes from George Washington — First President of the United States and commander of the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War..
“It is better to offer no excuse than a bad one.”
“It is better to be alone than in bad company.”
“If freedom of speech is taken away, then dumb and silent we may be led, like sheep to the slaughter.”
“Discipline is the soul of an army. It makes small numbers formidable; procures success to the weak, and esteem to all.”
“Observe good faith and justice toward all nations. Cultivate peace and harmony with all.”
“Guard against the impostures of pretended patriotism.”
“Truth will ultimately prevail where there is pains to bring it to light.”
“To be prepared for war is one of the most effective means of preserving peace.”
“I had four Bullets through my Coat, and two Horses shot under me; yet escaped unhurt, altho' Death was leveling my Companions on every side of me!”
“Influence is no government. Let us have one by which our lives, liberties, and properties will be secured, or let us know the worst at once.”
“My movements to the chair of government will be accompanied with feelings not unlike those of a culprit who is going to the place of his execution.”
“The confederation appears to me to be little more than a shadow without the substance; and Congress a nugatory body, their ordinances being little attended to.”
“Observe good faith and justice toward all nations; cultivate peace and harmony with all. Religion and morality enjoin this conduct; and can it be, that good policy does not equally enjoin it?”
“To sell the overplus I cannot, because I am principled against this kind of traffic in the human species. To hire them out, is almost as bad, because they could not be disposed of in families to any advantage, and to disperse the families I have an aversion. What then is to be done? Something must, or I shall be ruined.”
“Having now finished the work assigned me, I retire from the great theatre of Action — and bidding an Affectionate farewell to this August body under whose orders I have so long acted, I here offer my Commission, and take my leave of all the employments of public life.”
