Quote

The inducements of interest for observing [neutral] conduct . . . has been to endeavour to gain time to our country to settle and mature its yet recent institutions, and to progress without interruption, to that degree of strength and consistency, which is necessary to give it, humanly speaking, the command of its own fortunes.

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
Time
Necessary
Gain
Observing
Strength
Command
Consistency
Inducements
Progress
Speaking
Settle
Interruption
Interest
Degree
Recent
Humanly
Give
Gains
Commerce
Interruptions
Without
Degrees
Conduct
Fortunes
Country
Fortune
Settling
Endeavour
Giving
Institutions
Mature
Neutral

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We ought to deprecate the hazard attending ardent and susceptible minds, from being too strongly, and too early prepossessed in favor of other political systems, before they are capable of appreciating their own.
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While I reiterate the professions of my dependence upon Heaven... I will observe that... no man who is profligate in his morals... can possibly be a true Christian.
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The basis of our political system is the right of the people to make and to alter their constitutions of government.
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It is in vain, I perceive, to look for ease and happiness in a world of troubles.
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What a triumph for the advocates of despotism to find that we are incapable of governing ourselves, and that systems founded on the basis of equal liberty are merely ideal and fallacious.
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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.
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My observation is that whenever one person is found adequate to the discharge of a duty... it is worse executed by two persons, and scarcely done at all if three or more are employed therein.
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The Independence and Liberty you possess are the work of joint councils and joint efforts, of common dangers, sufferings and successes.
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Religion and morality are the essential pillars of civil society.
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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.
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My own remedy is always to eat, just before I step into bed, a hot roasted onion, if I have a cold.
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Remember, officers and soldiers, that you are fighting for the blessings of liberty.
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I use no Porter ... in my family, but such as is made in America: both these articles may now be purchased of an excellent quality.
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[V]irtue or morality is a necessary spring of popular government.
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Serious misfortunes, originating in misrepresentation, frequently flow and spread before they can be dissipated by truth.
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To expect ... the same service from raw and undisciplined recruits, as from veteran soldiers, is to expect what never did and perhaps never will happen. Men, who are familiarized to danger, meet it without shrinking whereas troops unused to service often apprehend danger where no danger is.
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Against the insidious wiles of foreign influence . . . the jealousy of a free people ought to be constantly awake.
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While we are zealously performing the duties of good citizens and soldiers, we certainly ought not to be inattentive to the higher duties of religion. To the distinguished character of Patriot, it should be our highest glory to add the more distinguished character of Christian.
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The great Searcher of human hearts is my witness, that I have no wish, which aspires beyond the humble and happy lot of living and dying a private citizen on my own farm.
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To form a new Government, requires infinite care, and unbounded attention for if the foundation is badly laid the superstructure must be bad.
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