100 Best George Washington Quotes (Leadership, Liberty, Unity, Wisdom)
- The Finest List Maker
- Dec 28, 2025
- 10 min read
Some words feel like cornerstones. They do not chase attention. They hold it. George Washington wrote with the weight of consequence: duty over ego, unity over noise, and a quiet insistence that character is national infrastructure.
This collection gathers 100 of the best George Washington quotes: some foundational, some sharp, some unexpectedly human. Use them for essays, classroom slides, speeches, Presidents’ Day posts, leadership talks, or whenever you want language that carries responsibility.
Table of Contents - George Washington Quotes
Famous George Washington Quotes
Short George Washington Quotes
Leadership and Responsibility Quotes
Freedom and Liberty Quotes
Government, Constitution, and Law Quotes
Unity and Citizenship Quotes
War, Peace, and Preparedness Quotes
Character, Virtue, and Morality Quotes
Civility and Friendship Quotes
Warnings and Wisdom for the Future Quotes
How to Use George Washington Quotes in Your Life
Frequently Asked Questions - Best George Washington Quotes
Best George Washington Quotes
1. Famous George Washington Quotes
These are the lines most often quoted for a reason: they define Washington’s worldview in clean, durable language.
“Observe good faith and justice towards all nations.” – George Washington, Farewell Address (1796)
“The unity of government which constitutes you one people is also now dear to you.” – George Washington, Farewell Address (1796)
“The name of American, which belongs to you in your national capacity, must always exalt the just pride of patriotism.” – George Washington, Farewell Address (1796)
“The common and continual mischiefs of the spirit of party are sufficient to make it the interest and duty of a wise people to discourage and restrain it.” – George Washington, Farewell Address (1796)
“Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports.” – George Washington, Farewell Address (1796)
“Against the insidious wiles of foreign influence, the jealousy of a free people ought to be constantly awake.” – George Washington, Farewell Address (1796)
"It is our true policy to steer clear of permanent alliances with any portion of the foreign world.” – George Washington, Farewell Address (1796)
“No people can be bound to acknowledge and adore the Invisible Hand which conducts the affairs of men more than those of the United States.” – George Washington, First Inaugural Address (1789)
“The preservation of the sacred fire of liberty and the destiny of the republican model of government are justly considered as deeply, perhaps as finally, staked on the experiment entrusted to the hands of the American people.” – George Washington, First Inaugural Address (1789)
“Arbitrary power is most easily established on the ruins of liberty abused to licentiousness.” – George Washington, Circular to the States (1783)
2. Short George Washington Quotes
Compact lines that still land hard. Good for titles, slides, and captions.
“Virtue or morality is a necessary spring of popular government.” – George Washington, Farewell Address (1796)
“Cherish public credit.” – George Washington, Farewell Address (1796)
“Cultivate peace and harmony with all.” – George Washington, Farewell Address (1796) “Experience is the surest standard.” – George Washington, Farewell Address (1796)
“Patriotism does not forbid it.” – George Washington, Farewell Address (1796)
“Public opinion should be enlightened.” – George Washington, Farewell Address (1796)
“A sacred regard to public justice.” – George Washington, Circular to the States (1783)
“A proper peace establishment.” – George Washington, Farewell Address (1796)
“Avoid particular attachments.” – George Washington, Farewell Address (1796)
“Avoid passionate attachments.” – George Washington, Farewell Address (1796)
3. Leadership and Responsibility Quotes
Washington’s leadership voice is steady: responsibility first, applause last.
“I walk on untrodden ground.” – George Washington, First Inaugural Address (1789)
“In every step by which they have advanced to the character of an independent nation, the people of the United States have appeared to me to be guided by some invisible hand.” – George Washington, First Inaugural Address (1789)
“There is no truth more thoroughly established than that there exists in the economy and course of nature an indissoluble union between virtue and happiness.” – George Washington, First Inaugural Address (1789)
“To be prepared for war is one of the most effectual means of preserving peace.” – George Washington, First Annual Address to Congress (1790)
“It is better to offer no excuse than a bad one.” – George Washington, attributed in early collections
“It is infinitely better to have a few good men than many indifferent ones.” – George Washington, commonly attributed
“Few men have virtue to withstand the highest bidder.” – George Washington, letter to Robert Howe (1779)
“Example, whether it be good or bad, has a powerful influence.” – George Washington, commonly attributed
“Happiness and moral duty are inseparably connected.” – George Washington, commonly attributed
“Associate yourself with men of good quality if you esteem your own reputation.” – George Washington, commonly attributed
4. Freedom and Liberty Quotes
Liberty in Washington’s writing is never casual. It is something you protect by behavior.
“Liberty, when it begins to take root, is a plant of rapid growth.” – George Washington, commonly cited
“We may find by our own unhappy experience, that there is a natural and necessary progression from the extreme of anarchy to the extreme of tyranny.” – George Washington, Circular to the States (1783)
“Arbitrary power is most easily established on the ruins of liberty abused to licentiousness.” – George Washington, Circular to the States (1783)
“The basis of our political systems is the right of the people to make and to alter their constitutions of government.” – George Washington, Farewell Address (1796)
“Let there be no change by usurpation.” – George Washington, Farewell Address (1796)
“Though this in one instance may be the instrument of good, it is the customary weapon by which free governments are destroyed.” – George Washington, Farewell Address (1796)
“Citizens, by birth or choice, of a common country, that country has a right to concentrate your affections.” – George Washington, Farewell Address (1796)
“The cause of virtue and liberty is confined to no continent or climate.” – George Washington, commonly cited
“The nation which indulges towards another an habitual hatred or an habitual fondness is in some degree a slave.” – George Washington, Farewell Address (1796)
“Real patriots, who may resist the intrigues of the favorite, are liable to become suspected and odious.” – George Washington, Farewell Address (1796)
5. Government, Constitution, and Law Quotes
Washington’s political philosophy is practical: strong structure, disciplined restraint.
“An indissoluble Union of the States under one federal head.” – George Washington, Circular to the States (1783)
“A sacred regard to public justice.” – George Washington, Circular to the States (1783)
“The very idea of the power and the right of the people to establish government presupposes the duty of every individual to obey the established government.” – George Washington, Farewell Address (1796)
“Respect for its authority, compliance with its laws, acquiescence in its measures, are duties enjoined by the fundamental maxims of true liberty.” – George Washington, Farewell Address (1796)
“The Constitution which at any time exists, till changed by an explicit and authentic act of the whole people, is sacredly obligatory upon all.” – George Washington, Farewell Address (1796)
“Promote then, as an object of primary importance, institutions for the general diffusion of knowledge.” – George Washington, Farewell Address (1796)
“In proportion as the structure of a government gives force to public opinion, it is essential that public opinion should be enlightened.” – George Washington, Farewell Address (1796)
“If the opinion of the people is properly enlightened and informed, it will be always right.” – George Washington, commonly attributed
“To contract new debts is not the way to pay old ones.” – George Washington, commonly attributed
“Let us raise a standard to which the wise and honest can repair.” – George Washington, commonly attributed
6. Unity and Citizenship Quotes
This is Washington at full volume: union as survival, not slogan.
“It is of infinite moment that you should properly estimate the immense value of your national union.” – George Washington, Farewell Address (1796)
“Your union ought to be considered as a main prop of your liberty.” – George Washington, Farewell Address (1796)
“The unity of government which constitutes you one people is also now dear to you.” – George Washington, Farewell Address (1796)
“With slight shades of difference, you have the same religion, manners, habits, and political principles.” – George Washington, Farewell Address (1796)
“You have in a common cause fought and triumphed together.” – George Washington, Farewell Address (1796)
“The name of American must always exalt the just pride of patriotism.” – George Washington, Farewell Address (1796)
“The great object for which I had the honor to hold an appointment in the service of my country being accomplished, I am now preparing to resign it.” – George Washington, Circular to the States (1783)
“To entertain a brotherly affection and love for one another.” – George Washington, Circular to the States (1783)
“To make those mutual concessions which are requisite to the general prosperity.” – George Washington, Circular to the States (1783)
“To sacrifice their individual advantages to the interests of the community.” – George Washington, Circular to the States (1783)
7. War, Peace, and Preparedness Quotes
Washington treats peace like engineering: it requires construction, not wishing.
“There is nothing so likely to produce peace as to be well prepared to meet an enemy.” – George Washington, letter to Elbridge Gerry (1780)
“To be prepared for war is one of the most effectual means of preserving peace.” – George Washington, First Annual Address (1790)
“Avoid the necessity of those overgrown military establishments.” – George Washington, Farewell Address (1796)
“Overgrown military establishments are, under any form of government, inauspicious to liberty.” – George Washington, Farewell Address (1796)
“The means of defense against foreign danger have always been the instruments of tyranny at home.” – George Washington, Farewell Address (1796)
“Why, by interweaving our destiny with that of any part of Europe, entangle our peace and prosperity in the toils of European ambition.” – George Washington, Farewell Address (1796)
“Why quit our own to stand upon foreign ground.” – George Washington, Farewell Address (1796)
“Keep steadily in view that which appears to be our true interest.” – George Washington, Farewell Address (1796)
“Extend our commercial relations, to have with them as little political connection as possible.” – George Washington, Farewell Address (1796)
“It is folly in one nation to look for disinterested favors from another.” – George Washington, Farewell Address (1796)
8. Character, Virtue, and Morality Quotes
Washington returns to one idea again and again: private virtue becomes public stability.
“The foundations of our national policy will be laid in the pure and immutable principles of private morality.” – George Washington, Farewell Address (1796)
“Religion and morality are indispensable supports.” – George Washington, Farewell Address (1796)
“In vain would that man claim the tribute of patriotism, who should labor to subvert these great pillars.” – George Washington, Farewell Address (1796)
“Virtue or morality is a necessary spring of popular government.” – George Washington, Farewell Address (1796)
“Let us with caution indulge the supposition that morality can be maintained without religion.” – George Washington, Farewell Address (1796)
“Reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle.” – George Washington, Farewell Address (1796)
“An indissoluble union between virtue and happiness.” – George Washington, First Inaugural Address (1789)
“The propitious smiles of Heaven can never be expected on a nation that disregards the eternal rules of order and right.” – George Washington, First Inaugural Address (1789)
“Honesty will be found on every experiment to be the best and only true policy.” – George Washington, Circular to the States (1783)
“Few men have virtue to withstand the highest bidder.” – George Washington, letter to Robert Howe (1779)
9. Civility and Friendship Quotes
A mix of personal counsel and Washington’s famous civility rules, copied as a teenager as penmanship practice.
“Be courteous to all, but intimate with few, and let those few be well tried before you give them your confidence.” – George Washington, letter to Bushrod Washington
“True friendship is a plant of slow growth, and must undergo and withstand the shocks of adversity.” – George Washington, letter to Bushrod Washington
“Every action done in company ought to be with some sign of respect to those that are present.” – George Washington, Rules of Civility
“When in company, put not your hands to any part of the body not usually discovered.” – George Washington, Rules of Civility
“Show nothing to your friend that may affright him.” – George Washington, Rules of Civility
“Be not froward but friendly and courteous.” – George Washington, Rules of Civility
“Detract not from others neither be excessive in commanding.” – George Washington, Rules of Civility
“Let your countenance be pleasant but in serious matters somewhat grave.” – George Washington, Rules of Civility
“Speak not when you should hold your peace.” – George Washington, Rules of Civility
“Undertake not what you cannot perform but be careful to keep your promise.” – George Washington, Rules of Civility
10. Warnings and Wisdom for the Future Quotes
Washington’s cautionary lines read like guardrails for any era.
“Let me now warn you in the most solemn manner against the baneful effects of the spirit of party.” – George Washington, Farewell Address (1796)
“The alternate domination of one faction over another is itself a frightful despotism.” – George Washington, Farewell Address (1796)
“It serves always to distract the public councils and enfeeble the public administration.” – George Washington, Farewell Address (1796)
“It agitates the community with ill founded jealousies and false alarms.” – George Washington, Farewell Address (1796)
“It kindles the animosity of one part against another.” – George Washington, Farewell Address (1796)
“It opens the door to foreign influence and corruption.” – George Washington, Farewell Address (1796)
“Excessive partiality for one foreign nation and excessive dislike of another are to be avoided.” – George Washington, Farewell Address (1796)
“Passionate attachments produce a variety of evils.” – George Washington, Farewell Address (1796)
“History and experience prove that foreign influence is one of the most baneful foes of republican government.” – George Washington, Farewell Address (1796)
How to Use George Washington Quotes in Your Life
Open a speech, toast, or presentation with one line as a tone setter.
Use short quotes as slide headings for leadership training and civic education.
Add a quote to Presidents’ Day posts without turning it into a slogan.
Pair a union or constitution quote with American history lessons and study guides.
Use character and civility lines as journaling prompts for personal discipline.
Frequently Asked Questions - Best George Washington Quotes
What makes a strong George Washington quote
Clear principle, concrete warning, or direct counsel. Best lines connect behavior to outcomes.
Where do these quotes work best?
Speeches, school projects, leadership decks, captions, posters, newsletters, and civics lessons.
Is it ok to use Washington quotes in commercial content?
Use short excerpts, include attribution, and prefer primary-source lines from the Farewell Address, Circular to the States, and inaugural messages.
