George Washington, also called Father of His Country, had the leading role, both militarily and politically, during the American Revolution and went on to become the first President of the United States. As a true patriot, best George Washington quotes will help you to embrace the integrity, duty, and responsibility while motivating you on your own path.
If you’re searching for really good quotes about life that perfectly capture what you’d like to say or just want to feel inspired yourself, browse through an amazing collection of famous Abraham Lincoln quotes, top Winston Churchill quotes, and inspiring Martin Luther King Jr quotes.
Best George Washington Quotes
It is better to be alone than in bad company. George Washington
It is better to offer no excuse than a bad one. George Washington
If freedom of speech is taken away, then dumb and silent we may be led, like sheep to the slaughter. George Washington
Observe good faith and justice toward all nations. Cultivate peace and harmony with all. George Washington
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. George Washington
To be prepared for war is one of the most effective means of preserving peace. George Washington
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
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. George Washington
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? George Washington
Discipline is the soul of an army. It makes small numbers formidable; procures success to the weak, and esteem to all. George Washington
Be courteous to all, but intimate with few, and let those few be well tried before you give them your confidence. True friendship is a plant of slow growth, and must undergo and withstand the shocks of adversity before it is entitled to appellation. George Washington
Let your discourse with men of business be short and comprehensive. George Washington
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. George Washington
However [political parties] may now and then answer popular ends, they are likely in the course of time and things, to become potent engines, by which cunning, ambitious, and unprincipled men will be enabled to subvert the power of the people and to usurp for themselves the reins of government, destroying afterwards the very engines which have lifted them to unjust dominion. George Washington
Be courteous to all, but intimate with few, and let those few be well tried before you give them your confidence. George Washington
99% of failures come from people who make excuses. George Washington
Associate with men of good quality if you esteem your own reputation; for it is better to be alone than in bad company. George Washington
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. George Washington
Let your heart feel for the afflictions and distress of everyone, and let your hand give in proportion to your purse. George Washington
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. George Washington
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. George Washington
Guard against the impostures of pretended patriotism. George Washington
Nothing can be more hurtful to the service, than the neglect of discipline; for that discipline, more than numbers, gives one army the superiority over another. George Washington
Labor to keep alive in your breast that little spark of celestial fire called conscience. George Washington
Lenience will operate with greater force, in some instances than rigor. It is therefore my first wish to have all of my conduct distinguished by it. George Washington
Perseverance and spirit have done wonders in all ages. George Washington
Truth will ultimately prevail where there is pains to bring it to light. George Washington
Associate yourself with men of good quality, if you esteem your own reputation; for ‘tis better to be alone than in bad company. George Washington
If the freedom of speech is taken away then dumb and silent we may be led, like sheep to the slaughter. George Washington
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. George Washington
The basis of our political system is the right of the people to make and to alter their constitutions of government. George Washington
A sensible woman can never be happy with a fool. George Washington
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. George Washington
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. George Washington
Laws made by common consent must not be trampled on by individuals. George Washington
Happiness depends more upon the internal frame of a person’s own mind, than on the externals in the world. George Washington
It will be found an unjust and unwise jealousy to deprive a man of his natural liberty upon the supposition he may abuse it. George Washington
The harder the conflict, the greater the triumph. George Washington
I know of no pursuit in which more real and important services can be rendered to any country than by improving its agriculture, its breed of useful animals, and other branches of a husbandman’s cares. George Washington
Worry is the interest paid by those who borrow trouble. George Washington
To form a new Government, requires infinite care, and unbounded attention; for if the foundation is badly laid the superstructure must be bad. George Washington
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. George Washington
But if we are to be told by a foreign power what we shall do, and what we shall not do, we have Independence yet to seek, and have contended hitherto for very little. George Washington
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. George Washington
Government is not reason and it is not eloquence. It is force! Like fire it is a dangerous servant and a fearful master. Never for a moment should it be left to irresponsible action. George Washington
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. George Washington
It should be the highest ambition of every American to extend his views beyond himself, and to bear in mind that his conduct will not only affect himself, his country, and his immediate posterity; but that its influence may be co extensive with the world, and stamp political happiness or misery on ages yet unborn. George Washington
I conceive a knowledge of books is the basis upon which other knowledge is to be built. George Washington
The Hand of providence has been so conspicuous in all this, that he must be worse than an infidel that lacks faith, and more than wicked, that has not gratitude enough to acknowledge his obligations. George Washington
Paper money has had the effect in your state that it will ever have, to ruin commerce, oppress the honest, and open the door to every species of fraud and injustice. George Washington
I do not mean to exclude altogether the idea of patriotism. I know it exists, and I know it has done much in the present contest. But I will venture to assert, that a great and lasting war can never be supported on this principle alone. It must be aided by a prospect of interest, or some reward. George Washington
To encourage literature and the arts is a duty which every good citizen owes to his country. George Washington
The foundations of our national policy will be laid in the pure and immutable principles of private morality, and the preeminence of free government be exemplified by all the attributes which can win the affections of its citizens, and command the respect of the world. George Washington
Where are our Men of abilities? Why do they not come forth to save their Country? George Washington
The preservation of the sacred fire of liberty, and the destiny of the republican model of government, are justly considered deeply, perhaps as finally, staked on the experiment entrusted to the hands of the American people. George Washington
Be courteous to all, but intimate with few; and let those be well tried before you give them your confidence. George Washington
I hope, some day or another, we shall become a storehouse and granary for the world. George Washington
We must consult our means rather than our wishes. George Washington
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. George Washington
Real men despise battle, but will never run from it. George Washington
I anticipate with pleasing expectations that retreat in which I promise myself to realize, without alloy, the sweet enjoyment of partaking, in the midst of my fellow citizens, the benign influence of good laws under a free government, the ever favorite object of my heart, and the happy reward, as I trust, of our mutual cares, labors, and dangers. George Washington
Discipline is the soul of an army. It makes small numbers formidable; procures success to the weak, and esteem to all. George Washington
I wish from my soul that the legislature of this State could see the policy of a gradual Abolition of Slavery. George Washington
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. George Washington
Few people have the virtue to withstand the highest bidder. George Washington
To persevere in one’s duty, and be silent is the best answer to calumny. George Washington
The liberty enjoyed by the people of these states of worshiping Almighty God agreeably to their conscience, is not only among the choicest of their blessings, but also of their rights. George Washington
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. George Washington
We are either a United people, or we are not. If the former, let us, in all matters of general concern act as a nation, which have national objects to promote, and a national character to support. If we are not, let us no longer act a farce by pretending to it. George Washington
There is nothing so likely to produce peace as to be well prepared to meet the enemy. George Washington
Your love of liberty your respect for the laws your habits of industry and your practice of the moral and religious obligations, are the strongest claims to national and individual happiness. George Washington
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. The Nation, prompted by ill will and resentment, sometimes impels to war the Government, contrary to the best calculations of policy. The Government sometimes participates in the national propensity, and adopts through passion what reason would reject; at other times, it makes the animosity of the nation subservient to projects of hostility instigated by pride, ambition, and other sinister and pernicious motives. The peace often, sometimes perhaps the liberty, of Nations has been the victim. George Washington
Let your heart feel for the afflictions and distress of everyone. George Washington
Democratical States must always feel before they can see it is this that makes their Governments slow, but the people will be right at last. George Washington