How to See the Father of Our Nation in a New Light
The man who took on the challenge of one of the most powerful nations on earth
Against all odds, as Commanding General of the Continental Army at the age of 44, he defeated the British, leading America to independence in 1776. As president of the Constitutional Convention, he was the first person to sign the U.S. Constitution. He became the first president of the United States and is commonly referred to as the “Father of Our Nation”, “First Father,” and the “Father of His Country” as well as the “Father of Our Country”.
George Washington is a true American icon. He served our country as selflessly as any man in its history. He was known for his way with words and fortunately his writings have been painstakingly preserved. Washington died at his estate in Mount Vernon, Virginia at the age of 67 in 1799.
Washington wrote and said so much that was recorded during his life it would take hundreds of pages just to capture the highlights! I have attempted to pare down his quotes that speak most to me into the small selection that follows. I think you will find these exemplify his extraordinary insight and wisdom. I have grouped and arranged the quotes in a way that should help you get the most from them.
Government and Politics
“I hold the maxim no less applicable to public than to private affairs, that honesty is always the best policy.”
“To be prepared for war is one of the most effective means of preserving peace.”
“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.”
“Harmony, liberal intercourse with all nations, are recommended by policy, humanity, and interest.”
“A primary object should be the education of our youth in the science of government. In a republic, what species of knowledge can be equally important? And what duty more pressing than communicating it to those who are to be the future guardians of the liberties of the country?”
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“The Nation, which indulges towards another an habitual hatred, or an habitual fondness, is in some degree a slave. It is a slave to its animosity or to its affection, either of which is sufficient to lead it astray from its duty and its interest.
“It is substantially true, that virtue or morality is a necessary spring of popular government. The rule, indeed, extends with more or less force to every species of free government.”
“Promote, then, as an object of primary importance, institutions for the general diffusion of knowledge. In proportion as the structure of a government gives force to public opinion, it is essential that public opinion should be enlightened.”
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“The basis of our political systems is the right of the people to make and to alter their Constitutions of Government.”
“In politics as in philosophy, my tenets are few and simple. The leading one of which, and indeed that which embraces most others, is to be honest and just ourselves and to exact it from others, meddling as little as possible in their affairs where our own are not involved. If this maxim was generally adopted, wars would cease and our swords would soon be converted into reap hooks and our harvests be more peaceful, abundant, and happy.”
America
“Citizens by birth or choice of a common country, that country has a right to concentrate your affections. The name of American, which belongs to you, in your national capacity, must always exalt the just pride of Patriotism, more than any appellation derived from local discriminations.”
“The time is near at hand which must determine whether Americans are to be free men or slaves.”
“The bosom of America is open to receive not only the Opulent and respectable Stranger, but the oppressed and persecuted of all Nations And Religions; whom we shall welcome to a participation of all our rights and privileges, if by decency and propriety of conduct they appear to merit the enjoyment.”
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“As Mankind becomes more liberal, they will be more apt to allow that all those who conduct themselves as worthy members of the community are equally entitled to the protections of civil government. I hope ever to see America among the foremost nations of justice and liberality.”
“Some day, following the example of the United States of America, there will be a United States of Europe.”
“No people can be bound to acknowledge 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.”
“Guard against the impostures of pretended patriotism.”
“The great mass of our Citizens require only to understand matters rightly, to form right decisions.”
Liberty
“Liberty, when it begins to take root, is a plant of rapid growth.”
“Let us therefore animate and encourage each other, and show the whole world that a Freeman, contending for liberty on his own ground, is superior to any slavish mercenary on earth.”
“If freedom of speech is taken away, then dumb and silent we may be led, like sheep to the slaughter.”
“Arbitrary power is most easily established on the ruins of liberty abused to licentiousness.”
“Individuals entering into society, must give up a share of liberty to preserve the rest.”
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“A free people ought not only to be armed, but disciplined; to which end a uniform and well-digested plan is requisite; and their safety and interest require that they should promote such manufactories as tend to render them independent of others for essential, particularly military, supplies.”
“The hour is fast approaching, on which the Honor and Success of this army, and the safety of our bleeding Country depend. Remember officers and Soldiers, that you are free men, fighting for the blessings of Liberty — that slavery will be your portion, and that of your posterity, if you do not acquit yourselves like men.”
“Interwoven as is the love of liberty with every ligament of your hearts, no recommendation of mine is necessary to fortify or confirm the attachment.”
“Hence, likewise, they will avoid the necessity of those overgrown military establishments, which, under any form of government, are inauspicious to liberty, and which are to be regarded as particularly hostile to Republican Liberty. In this sense it is, that your Union ought to be considered as a main prop of your liberty, and that the love of the one ought to endear to you the preservation of the other.”
Happiness
“Human happiness and moral duty are inseparably connected.”
“Happiness depends more upon the internal frame of a person’s own mind, than on the externals in the world.”
“There is nothing which can better deserve our patronage than the promotion of science and literature. Knowledge is in every country the surest basis of public happiness.”
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“It is of infinite moment, that you should properly estimate the immense value of your national Union to your collective and individual happiness; that you should cherish a cordial, habitual, and immovable attachment to it; accustoming yourselves to think and speak of it as of the Palladium of your political safety and prosperity; watching for its preservation with jealous anxiety; discountenancing whatever may suggest even a suspicion, that it can in any event be abandoned; and indignantly frowning upon the first dawning of every attempt to alienate any portion of our country from the rest, or to enfeeble the sacred ties which now link together the various parts.”
Religion
“Religious controversies are always productive of more acrimony and irreconcilable hatreds than those which spring from any other cause.”
“Reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principles.”
“While we are zealously performing the duties of good citizens and soldiers, we certainly ought not to be inattentive to the higher duties of religion. To the distinguished character of Patriot, it should be our highest glory to add the more distinguished character of Christian.”
“Of all the animosities which have existed among mankind, those which are caused by a difference of sentiments in religion appear to be the most inveterate and distressing, and ought most to be deprecated.”
Wisdom
“I’ll die on my feet before I’ll live on my knees!”
“It is better to offer no excuse than a bad one.”
“99% percent of failures are the ones who make excuses.”
“Real men despise battle, but will never run from it.”
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Perseverance and spirit have done wonders in all ages.
“Worry is the interest paid by those who borrow trouble.”
“We must consult our means rather than our wishes.”
“The harder the conflict, the greater the triumph.”
“A bad war is fought with a good mind.”
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“There is nothing so likely to produce peace as to be well prepared to meet the enemy.”
“It is absolutely necessary, therefore, for me to have persons that can think for me, as well as execute orders.”
“To persevere in one’s duty, and be silent is the best answer to calumny.”
“The turning points of lives are not the great moments. The real crises are often concealed in occurrences so trivial in appearance that they pass unobserved.”
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“Associate yourself with men of good quality, if you esteem your own reputation; for ’tis better to be alone than in bad company.”
“Anything will give up its secrets if you love it enough. Not only have I found that when I talk to the little flower or to the little peanut they will give up their secrets, but I have found that when I silently commune with people they give up their secrets also — if you love them enough”
“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.”
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“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.”
“Discipline is the soul of an army. It makes small numbers formidable; procures success to the weak, and esteem to all.”
“I conceive a knowledge of books is the basis upon which other knowledge is to be built.”
Virtue and Character
“I had rather be on my farm than be emperor of the world.”
“How far you go in life depends on your being tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving, and tolerant of the weak and the strong. Because someday in life you will have been all of these.”
“Make sure you are doing what God wants you to do — then do it with all your strength.”
“Decision making, like coffee, needs a cooling process.”
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“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.”
“Few men have virtue to withstand the highest bidder.”
“A man ought not to value himself of his achievements or rare qualities of wit, much less of his riches, virtue or kindred.”
“True friendship is a plant of slow growth, and must undergo and withstand the shocks of adversity before it is entitled to appellation.”
“A slender acquaintance with the world must convince every man that actions, not words, are the true criterion of the attachment of friends.”
“Be courteous to all, but intimate with few, and let those few be well tried before you give them your confidence.”
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“My mother was the most beautiful woman I ever saw. All I am I owe to my mother. I attribute my success in life to the moral, intellectual and physical education I received from her.”
“To encourage literature and the arts is a duty which every good citizen owes to his country.”
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“Much was to be done by prudence, much by conciliation, much by firmness.”
“Strive not with your superiors in argument, but always submit your judgment to others with modesty.”
“Speak not evil of the absent, for it is unjust.”
“Be not glad at the misfortune of another, though he may be your enemy.”
This article has touched on a small amount of Washington’s work and wisdom. If you wish to read more, check out the Online Library of Liberty. There are also many books on various aspects of Washington’s life available in print. I am sure the more you learn about Washington the more fascinated you will be with his role in history.
Take his writing and wisdom to heart and the inspiration of Washington can only change your life for the better!
Bill Abbate Leadership Writer and Editor in ILLUMINATION.
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