George Washington

triumph despotism incapable govern liberty

"What a triumph for the advocates of despotism to find that we are incapable of governing ourselves, and that systems on the basis of equal liberty are merely ideal and fallacious"

—George Washington (1732-1799)

no excuse better bad

“It is better to offer no excuse than a bad one.”

—George Washington (1732-1799)

alone bad company

“It is better to be alone than in bad company.”

—George Washington (1732-1799)

simple tenets honesty affairs

“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.”

—George Washington (1732-1799)

pack jackass lion lead

"A pack of jackasses led by a lion is superior to a pack of lions led by a jackass."

—George Washington (1732-1799)

public office power abuse bureaucracy bureaucrat

"Occupants of public offices love power and are prone to abuse it."

—George Washington (1732-1799)

bias story repeat mind impress insensibly brainwash

"When one side only of a story is heard and often repeated, the human mind becomes impressed with it insensibly."

—George Washington (1732-1799)

United States USA election president peaceful transition power

"What is most important of this grand experiment, the United States? Not the election of the first president but the election of its second president. The peaceful transition of power is what will separate this country from every other country in the world."

—George Washington (1732-1799)