Inspirational Quotes
Words to motivate, inspire, and guide you.
George Washington Quotes
GratitudeInfluenceMotherSuccessUpbringing My mother was the most beautiful woman I ever saw. All I am I owe to my mother I attribute my success in life to the moral, intellectual and physical education I received from her.
CollaborationGovernanceHappinessHuman RightsKnowledge The foundation of our Empire was not laid in the gloomy age of Ignorance and Superstition, but at an Epoch when the rights of mankind were better understood and more clearly defined, than at any former period, the researches of the human mind, after social happiness, have been carried to a great extent, the Treasures of knowledge, acquired by the labours of Philosophers, Sages and Legislatures, through a long succession of years, are laid open for our use, and their collected wisdom may be happily applied in the Establishment of our forms of Government.
AfflictionsCompassionEmpathyKindnessSorrow Let your heart feel for the afflictions and distress of everyone.
HonestyJusticeNon-InterferencePeace In politics as in philosophy, my tenets are few and simple. The leading one of which, and indeed that which embraces most others, is to be honest and just ourselves and to exact it from others, meddling as little as possible in their affairs where our own are not involved If this maxim was generally adopted, wars would cease and our swords would soon be converted into reap hooks and our harvests be more peaceful, abundant, and happy.
CourageDignityFreedomResistance I'll die on my feet before I'll live on my knees! (*often attributed to Washington, but cannot be confirmed).
BooksFoundationKnowledge I conceive a knowledge of books is the basis upon which other knowledge is to be built.
ConnectionLoveUnderstanding Anything will give up its secrets if you love it enough. Not only have I found that when I talk to the little flower or to the little peanut they will give up their secrets, but I have found that when I silently commune with people they give up their secrets also-if you love them enough.
Freedom of SpeechLibertyOppressionVulnerability If freedom of speech is taken away, then dumb and silent we may be led, like sheep to the slaughter.
Law All obstructions to the execution of the laws, all combinations and associations, under whatever plausible character, with the real design to direct, control, counteract, or awe the regular deliberation and action of the constituted authorities, are destructive of this fundamental principle, and of fatal tendency They serve to organize faction, to give it an artificial and extraordinary force; to put, in the place of the delegated will of the nation the will of a party, often a small but artful and enterprising minority of the community; and, according to the alternate triumphs of different parties, to make the public administration the mirror of the ill-concerted and incongruous projects of faction, rather than the organ of consistent and wholesome plans digested by common counsels and modified by mutual interests.
ExampleInfluenceIntegrity Wherein you reprove another be unblameable yourself, for example is more prevalent than precepts.
ContentmentHumilityNaturePersonal ValuesSimplicity I had rather be on my farm than be emperor of the world.
HumilityIntegrityReputationSelf-doubt But lest some unlucky event should happen unfavorable to my reputation, I beg it may be remembered by every gentleman in the room that I this day declare with the utmost sincerity, I do not think myself equal to the command I am honored with.
FreedomGovernmentLibertyMilitaryUnion Hence, likewise, they will avoid the necessity of those overgrown military establishments, which, under any form of government, are inauspicious to liberty, and which are to be regarded as particularly hostile to Republican Liberty In this sense it is, that your Union ought to be considered as a main prop of your liberty, and that the love of the one ought to endear to you the preservation of the other.
HonestyIntegrityPolicy I hold the maxim no less applicable to public than to private affairs, that honesty is always the best policy.
Civic PrideCountryNational IdentityPatriotismUnity Citizens by birth or choice of a common country, that country has a right to concentrate your affections. The name of American, which belongs to you, in your national capacity, must always exalt the just pride of Patriotism, more than any appellation derived from local discriminations.
AffectionCompletionDignityFarewellResignation Having now finished the work assigned me, I retire from the great theatre of Action; and bidding an Affectionate farewell to this August body under whose orders I have so long acted, I here offer my Commission, and take my leave of all the employments of public life.
JusticePatriotismTreason No punishment, in my opinion, is to great, for the man who can build his greatness upon his country's ruin.
HumilityModestyRespectWisdom Strive not with your superiors in argument, but always submit your judgment to others with modesty.
DependenceLeadershipTeamwork It is absolutely necessary for me to have persons that can think for me, as well as execute orders.
CitizenshipEqualityGovernmentJusticeRights It is now no more that toleration is spoken of, as if it was by the indulgence of one class of people, that another enjoyed the exercise of their inherent natural rights For happily the government of the United States, which gives to bigotry no sanction - to persecution no assistance, requires only that they who live under its protection should demean themselves as good citizens.
BurdenEthicsPosterityResponsibility We should avoid ungenerously throwing upon posterity the burden which we ourselves ought to bear.
FreedomGrowthLibertyPotentialRoots Liberty, when it begins to take root, is a plant of rapid growth.
ConfidenceFriendshipPerseveranceRelationshipTrust Be courteous to all, but intimate with few, and let those few be well tried before you give them your confidence. True friendship is a plant of slow growth, and must undergo and withstand the shocks of adversity before it is entitled to appellation.
BurdenIsolationLeadershipWorry The reflection upon my situation and that of this army produces many an uneasy hour when all around me are wrapped in sleep Few people know the predicament we are in.
ExperienceLearningPastWisdom 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.
ArtsCitizenshipCultureDutyLiterature To encourage literature and the arts is a duty which every good citizen owes to his country.
Liberty The hour is fast approaching, on which the Honor and Success of this army, and the safety of our bleeding Country depend Remember officers and Soldiers, that you are free men, fighting for the blessings of Liberty -- that slavery will be your portion, and that of your posterity, if you do not acquit yourselves like men.