George Washington

When one side only of a story is heard and often repeated, the human mind becomes impressed with it insensibly.

Real men despise battle, but will never run from it.

Speak not injurious words neither in jest nor earnest; scoff at none, although they give occasion.

..the establishment of Civil and Religious Liberty was the Motive that induced me to the field of battle.

The Independence and Liberty you possess are the work of joint councils and joint efforts, of common dangers, sufferings and successes.

There is nothing that gives a man consequence, and renders him fit for command, like a support that renders him independent of everybody but the State he serves.

Character enough of an opposite description ... My opinion is ... that you could as soon scrub the blackamore white, as to change the principles of a profest Democrat; and that he will leave nothing unattempted to overturn the Government of this Country.

Example, whether it be good or bad, has a powerful influence.

Against the insidious wiles of foreign influence, (I conjure you to believe me fellow citizens) the jealousy of a free people ought to be constantly awake; since history and experience prove that foreign influence is one of the most baneful foes of Republican Government.

The policy or advantage of [immigration] taking place in a body (I mean the settling of them in a body) may be much questioned; for, by so doing, they retain the language, habits, and principles (good or bad) which they bring with them. Whereas by an intermixture with our people, they, or their descendants, get assimilated to our customs, measures, and laws: in a word, soon become one people.

Though, when a people shall have become incapable of governing themselves and fit for a master, it is of little consequence from what quarter he comes.

I was no party man myself, and the first wish of my heart was, if parties did exist, to reconcile them.

Make sure you are doing what God wants you to do--then do it with all your strength.

Ours is a kind of struggle designed, I dare say, by Providence to try the patience, fortitude, and virtue of men. None, therefore, who is engaged in it, will suffer himself, I trust, to sink under difficulties, or be discouraged by hardships. If he cannot do as he wishes, he must do what he can.

It is impossible to account for the creation of the universe without the agency of a Supreme Being.

A bad war is fought with a good mind.

The alternate domination of one faction over another, sharpened by the spirit of revenge natural to party dissension, which in different ages and countries has perpetrated the most horrid enormities, is itself a frightful despotism. But this leads at length to a more formal and permanent despotism.

The investigation of mathematical truths accustoms the mind to method and correctness in reasoning, and is an employment peculiarly worthy of rational beings.

Let us with Caution indulge the supposition that morality can be maintained without religion.

I walk on untrodden ground. There is scarcely any part of my conduct which may not hereafter be drawn into precedent.

I am persuaded, you will permit me to observe, that the path of true piety is so plain as to require but little political direction.