Quote

I am led to reflect how much more delightful to an undebauched mind is the task of making improvements on the earth, than all the vain glory which can be acquired from ravaging it by the most uninterrupted career of conquests.

George Washington

Change background

T
T
T

Change font

TAGS & TOPICS

George Washington
Age: 67 †
Born: 1732
Born: February 22
Died: 1799
Died: December 14
1St U.S. President
Cartographer
Engineer
Farmer
Land Surveyor
Military Officer
Politician
Slaveholder
Statesperson
Westmoreland County
Virginia
Washington
President Washington
G. Washington
Father of the United States
The American Fabius
Mind
Tasks
Improvements
Garden
Acquired
Glory
Conquest
Career
Delightful
Careers
Reflect
Making
Improvement
Ravaging
Earth
Task
Conquests
Much
Vain
Uninterrupted

More quotes by George Washington

Image
There is nothing so likely to produce peace as to be well prepared to meet the enemy.
George Washington
Image
Rise early, that by habit it may become familiar, agreeable, healthy, and profitable.
George Washington
Image
The General hopes and trusts that every officer and man will endeavor to live and act as becomes a Christian soldier defending the dearest rights and liberties of his country.
George Washington
Image
Among many other weighty objections to the Measure, it has been suggested, that it has a tendency to introduce religious disputes into the Army, which above all things should be avoided, and in many instances would compel men to a mode of Worship which they do not profess.
George Washington
Image
A woman ... all beautiful and accomplished will, while her hand and heart are undisposed of, turn the heads and set the circle in which she moves on fire. Let her marry, and what is the consequence? The madness ceases and all is quiet again. Why? Not because there is any diminution in the charms of the lady, but because there is an end of hope.
George Washington
Image
Extensive powers not exercised as far as was necessary have, I believe, scarcely ever failed to ruin the possessor.
George Washington
Image
No man has a more perfect reliance on the alwise and powerful dispensations of the Supreme Being than I have, nor thinks His aid more necessary.
George Washington
Image
This spirit [of Party], unfortunately, is inseperable from our nature, having its root in the strongest passions of the human Mind. It exists under different shapes in all Governments, more or less stifled, controuled, or repressed but, in those of the popular form it is seen in its greatest rankness and is truly their worst enemy.
George Washington
Image
If we are wise, let us prepare for the worst.
George Washington
Image
Strive not with your superiors in argument, but always submit your judgment to others with modesty.
George Washington
Image
The great mass of our citizens require only to understand matters rightly, to form right decisions.
George Washington
Image
America ... has ever had, and I trust she ever will have, my honest exertions to promote her interest. I cannot hope that my services have been the best but my heart tells me they have been the best that I could render.
George Washington
Image
Sympathy for the favorite nation, facilitating the illusion of an imaginary common interest in cases where no real common interest exists, and infusing into one the enmities of the other, betrays the former into a participation in the quarrels and wars of the latter without adequate inducement or justification.
George Washington
Image
Not only do I pray for it, on the score of human dignity, but I can clearly forsee that nothing but the rooting out of slavery can perpetuate the existence of our union, by consolidating it in a common bond of principle.
George Washington
Image
It is too probable that no plan we propose will be adopted. Perhaps another dreadful conflict is to be sustained. If, to please the people, we offer what we ourselves disprove, how can we afterwards defend our work? Let us raise a standard to which the wise and the honest can repair. The event is in the hand of God.
George Washington
Image
Even respectable characters speak of a monarchical form of government without horror.
George Washington
Image
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
Image
The Stamp Act imposed on the colonies by the Parliament of Great Britain is an ill-judged measure. Parliament has no right to put its hands into our pockets without our consent.
George Washington
Image
My opinion with respect to immigration is, that except of useful mechanics and some particular description of men and professions, there is no use of encouragement.
George Washington
Image
A lottery is the perfect tax...laid only upon the willing.
George Washington