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Smaller societies must prepare the way for greater.

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
Smaller
Prepare
Greater
Must
Way
Societies

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In disputes, be not so desirous to overcome as to not give liberty to each one to deliver his opinion and submit to the judgment of the major part, especially if they are judges of the dispute.
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I anticipate with pleasing expectations that retreat in which I promise myself to realize, without alloy, the sweet enjoyment of partaking, in the midst of my fellow citizens, the benign influence of good laws under a free government, the ever favorite object of my heart, and the happy reward, as I trust, of our mutual cares, labors, and dangers.
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..avoiding likewise the accumulation of debt, not only by shunning occasions of expense, but by vigorous exertions in time of peace to discharge the debts, which unavoidable wars may have occasioned, not ungenerously throwing upon posterity the burthen, which we ourselves ought to bear.
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There is an indissoluble union between a magnanimous policy and the solid rewards of public prosperity and felicity.
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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.
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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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I wish from my soul that the legislature of this State could see the policy of a gradual Abolition of Slavery.
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My manner of living is plain. I do not mean to be put out of it. A glass of wine and a bit of mutton are always ready and such as will be content to partake of them are always welcome. Those, who expect more, will be disappointed, but no change will be effected by it.
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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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Rise early, that by habit it may become familiar, agreeable, healthy, and profitable.
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Be not forward, but friendly and courteous the first to salute, hear and answer and be not pensive when it is time to converse.
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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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It is the child of avarice, the brother of iniquity, and the father of mischief.
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Reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can exist apart from religious principle.
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Avoiding occasions of expense by cultivating peace, we should remember also that timely disbursements to prepare for danger frequently prevent much greater disbursements to repel it
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A free people ought not only to be armed, but disciplined to which end a uniform and well-digested plan is requisite.
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Why should I expect to be exempt from censure the unfailing lot of an elevated station? My Heart tells me it has been my unremitted aim to do the best circumstances would permit yet, I may have been very often mistaken in my judgment of the means.
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It is . . . [the citizens] choice, and depends upon their conduct, whether they will be respectable and prosperous, or contemptable and miserable as a Nation. This is the time of their political probation this is the moment when the eyes of the World are turned upon them.
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All I am I owe to my mother.
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Every day the increasing weight of years admonishes me more and more, that the shade of retirement is as necessary to me as it will be welcome.
George Washington