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I had rather be in my grave than in my present situation, I had rather be on my farm than be emperor of the world and yet they charge me with wanting to be a king.

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
Rather
Charge
World
Grave
Graves
Wanting
King
Kings
Emperor
Present
Farm
Situation
Farms

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And you will, by the dignity of your Conduct, afford occasion for Posterity to say, when speaking of the glorious example you have exhibited to Mankind, had this day been wanting, the World had never seen the last stage of perfection to which human nature is capable of attaining.
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Over grown military establishments are under any form of government inauspicious to liberty, and are to be regarded as particularly hostile to republican liberty.
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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.
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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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Interwoven is the love of liberty with every ligament of the heart.
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In vain would that man claim the tribute of patriotism who should labor to subvert these great pillars.
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The crisis is arrived when we must assert our rights, or submit to every imposition, that can be heaped upon us, till custom and use shall make us as tame and abject slaves, as the blacks we rule over with such arbitrary sway.
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Being a politician makes your hair turn white.
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Observe good faith and justice toward all nations. Cultivate peace and harmony with all.
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I have often expressed my sentiments, that every man, conducting himself as a good citizen, and being accountable to God alone for his religious opinions, ought to be protected in worshipping the Deity according to the dictates of his own conscience.
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[V]irtue or morality is a necessary spring of popular government.
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I am just going. Have me decently buried and do not let my body be put into the Vault in less than three days after I am dead.... Tis well.
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Nothing is a greater stranger to my breast, or a sin that my soul more abhors, than that black and detestable one, ingratitude.
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Nothing short of self-respect and that justice which is essential to a national character ought to involve us in war.
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Be courteous to all, but intimate with few, and let those few be well tried before you give them your confidence.
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The Constitution which at any time exists, 'till changed by an explicit and authentic act of the whole People is sacredly obligatory upon all.
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To rectify past blunders is impossible, but we might profit by the experience of them.
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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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While we are contending for our own liberty, we should be very cautious not to violate the conscience of others, ever considering that God alone is the judge of the hearts of men, and to Him only in this case are they answerable.
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I commend you, however, for passing the time in as merry a manner as you possibly could it is assuredly better to go laughing than crying thro' the rough journey of life.
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