Almighty and eternal Lord God, the great Creator of heaven and earth, and the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ; look down from heaven in pity and compassion upon me thy servant, who humbly prostrate myself before thee.
George WashingtonRead
Few men have virtue to withstand the highest bidder.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote highlights the difficulty of maintaining integrity when faced with temptation for profit.
George Washington suggests that it is rare for individuals to possess the moral strength necessary to resist corruption, especially when offers from powerful influences or rewards are involved. This statement reflects a broader commentary on human nature and the challenges faced in upholding one's principles in society.
Themes
VirtueIntegrityCorruptionTemptationMorality
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in a speech about ethical leadership to emphasize the importance of integrity.
More from George Washington
All quotes βIf, in the opinion of the people, the distribution or modification of the constitutional powers be in any particular wrong, let it be corrected by an amendment in the way which the Constitution designates. But let there be no change by usurpation; for though this, in one instance, may be the instrument of good, it is the customary weapon by which free governments are destroyed.
George WashingtonRead
The duty of holding a Neutral conduct may be inferred, without any thing more, from the obligation which justice and humanity impose on every nation, in cases in which it is free to act, to maintain inviolate the relations of Peace and amity toward other Nations.
George WashingtonRead
We began a contest for liberty ill provided with the means for the war, relying on our patriotism to supply the deficiency. We expected to encounter many wants and distressed we must bear the present evils and fortitude
George WashingtonRead
What is most important of this grand experiment, the United States? Not the election of the first president but the election of its second president. The peaceful transition of power is what will separate this country from every other country in the world.
George WashingtonRead
Perseverance and spirit have done wonders in all ages.
George WashingtonRead
Similar quotes
I am so in favor of the actual infinite that instead of admitting that Nature abhors it, as is commonly said, I hold that Nature makes frequent use of it everywhere, in order to show more effectively the perfections of its Author.
Gottfried LeibnizRead
When a man sells eleven ounces for twelve, he makes a compact with the devil, and sells himself for the value of an ounce.
Henry Ward BeecherRead
What you see determines how you interpret the world, which in turn influences what you expect of the world and how you expect the story of your life to unfold.
Sheena IyengarRead
As people used to be wrong about the motion of the sun, so they are still wrong about the motion of the future. The future stands still, it is we who move in infinite space.
Rainer Maria RilkeRead
All the Utopias will come to pass only when we grow wings and all people are converted into angels.
Fyodor DostoevskyRead
Lord, give me firmness without hardness, steadfastness without dogmatism, love without weakness.
Jim ElliotRead