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[V]irtue or morality is a necessary spring of popular government.

George Washington

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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
Popular
Morality
Spring
Necessary
Virtue
Liberty
Government

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I never mean, unless some particular circumstances should compel it, to possess another slave by purchase, it being among my first wishes to see some plan adopted, by which slavery in this country may be abolished by law.
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Religion is as necessary to reason as reason is to religion. The one cannot exist without the other. A reasoning being would lose his reason, in attempting to account for the great phenomena of nature, had he not a Supreme Being to refer to and well has it been said, that if there had been no God, mankind would have been obliged to imagine one.
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[The adoption of the Constitution] will demonstrate as visibly the finger of Providence as any possible event in the course of human affairs can ever designate it.
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A hundred thousand men, coming one after another, cannot move a Ton weight but the united strength of 50 would transport it with ease.
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At this auspicious period, the United States came into existence as a Nation and if their Citizens should not be completely free and happy, the fault will be entirely their own.
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I rejoice in a belief that intellectual light will spring up in the dark corners of the earth that freedom of enquiry will produce liberality of conduct that mankind will reverse the absurd position that the many were, made for the few and that they will not continue slaves in one part of the globe, when they can become freemen in another.
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Serious misfortunes, originating in misrepresentation, frequently flow and spread before they can be dissipated by truth.
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It will at least be a recommendation to the proposed constitution that it is provided with more checks and barriers against the introduction of tyranny, and those of a nature less liable to be surmounted, than any government hitherto instituted among mortals hath possessed.
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Should the States reject this excellent Constitution, the probability is, an opportunity will never again offer to cancel another in peacethe next will be drawn in blood.
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Refrain from drink which is the source of all evil-and the ruin of half the workmen in this Country.
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Be Americans. Let there be no sectionalism, no North, South, East or West. You are all dependent on one another and should be one in union. In one word, be a nation. Be Americans, and be true to yourselves.
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The Citizens of the United States of America have a right to applaud themselves for giving to Mankind examples of an enlarged and liberal policy: a policy worthy of imitation. All possess alike liberty of conscience and immunities of citizenship.
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The time is near at hand which must determine whether Americans are to be free men or slaves.
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Integrity and firmness is all I can promise these, be the voyage long or short, never shall forsake me though I be deserted by all men. For of the consolations which are to be derived from these (under any circumstances) the world cannot deprive me.
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To the efficacy and permanency of your union a government for the whole is indispensable.
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If we mean to support the liberty and independence which has cost us so much blood and treasure to establish, we must drive far away the demon of party spirit and local reproach.
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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.
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The ways of Providence being inscrutable, and the justice of it not to be scanned by the shallow eye of humanity, nor to be counteracted by the utmost efforts of human power or wisdom, resignation, and as far as the strength of our reason and religion can carry us, a cheerful acquiescence to the Divine Will, is what we are to aim.
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Indians and wolves are both beasts of prey, tho' they differ in shape.
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Three things prompt men to a regular discharge of their duty in time of action: natural bravery, hope of reward, and fear of punishment.
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