I had rather be on my farm than be emperor of the world. — George Washington

Peace with all the world, is my sincere wish. — George Washington

This would be the best of all possible worlds, if there were no religion in it. John Adams, U.S. President — George Washington

We are not to expect perfection in this world; but mankind, in modern times, have apparently made some progress in the science of government. — George Washington

It is in vain, I perceive, to look for ease and happiness in a world of troubles. — George Washington

Peace with all the world is my sincere wish. I am sure it is our true policy, and am persuaded it is the ardent desire of the government. — George Washington

All Freemasonry should be disbanded in America because our organization has been infiltrated by the Illuminati and they have bad intention for America and the World. — George Washington

Happiness depends more upon the internal frame of a person’s own mind, than on the externals in the world. — George Washington

Tis our true policy to steer clear of permanent alliances with any portion of the foreign world. — George Washington

One thing and only one thing a Masonic Lodge can give its members which they can get nowhere else in the world. That one thing is Masonry. — George Washington

Let us therefore animate and encourage each other, and show the whole world that a Freeman, contending for liberty on his own ground, is superior to any slavish mercenary on earth. — George Washington

Our country’s honor calls upon us for a vigorous and manly exertion; and if we now shamefully fail, we shall become infamous to the whole world. — George Washington

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

Mankind, when left to themselves, are unfit for their own government. — George Washington

Our cause is noble; it is the cause of mankind! — George Washington

Let us impart all the blessings we possess, or ask for ourselves, to the whole family of mankind. — George Washington

My first wish is to see this plague of mankind, war, banished from the earth. — George Washington

Without virtue, and without integrity, the finest talents and the most brilliant accomplishments can never gain the respect, and conciliate the esteem, of the truly valuable part of mankind. — George Washington

So far as I am acquainted with the principles and doctrines of Freemasonry, I conceive it to be founded in benevolence and to be exercised only for the good of mankind. — George Washington

I had always hoped that this land might become a safe and agreeable asylum to the virtuous and persecuted part of mankind, to whatever nation they might belong. — George Washington

Of all the animosities which have existed among mankind, those which are caused by difference of sentiment in religion appear to be the most inveterate and distressing, and ought most to be deprecated. — George Washington

The whole duty of man is summed up in obedience to God’s will. — George Washington

Happiness and moral duty are inseparably connected. — George Washington

Human happiness and moral duty are inseparably connected. — George Washington

It is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God. — George Washington

To encourage literature and the arts is a duty which every good citizen owes To his country. — George Washington

The consciousness of having discharged that duty which we owe to our country is superior to all other considerations. — George Washington

I shall make it the most agreeable part of my duty to study merit, and reward the brave and deserving. — George Washington

It is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favors. — George Washington

The fundamental principle of our constitution … enjoins the sense of command, duty that the will of the majority shall prevail. — George Washington

In executing the duties of my present important station, I can promise nothing but purity of intentions, and, in carrying these into effect, fidelity and diligence. — George Washington

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

Diffidence in an officer is a good mark because he will always endeavor to bring himself up to what he conceives to be the full line of his duty. — George Washington

Be not forward, but friendly and courteous; the first to salute, hear and answer; and be not pensive when it is time to converse. — George Washington

Reason, too late perhaps, may convince you of the folly of misspending time. — George Washington

Like as a wise man in time of peace prepares for war. — George Washington

The tumultuous populace of large cities are ever to be dreaded. Their indiscriminate violence prostrates for the time all public authority, and its consequences are sometimes extensive and terrible. — George Washington

Let me ask you, sir, when is the time for brave men to exert themselves in the cause of liberty and their country, if this is not? — George Washington

No pecuniary consideration is more urgent, than the regular redemption and discharge of the public debt: on none can delay be more injurious, or an economy of time more valuable. — George Washington

May the father of all mercies scatter light, and not darkness, upon our paths, and make us in all our several vocations useful here, and in His own due time and way everlastingly happy. — George Washington

In the composition of the human frame there is a good deal of inflammable matter, however dormant it may lie for a time. — George Washington

It is on great occasions only, and after time has been given for cool and deliberate reflection, that the real voice of the people can be known. — George Washington

The time is near at hand which must determine whether Americans are to be free men or slaves. — George Washington

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. — George Washington

V]irtue or morality is a necessary spring of popular government. — George Washington

It is impossible to reason without arriving at a Supreme Being. Religion is as necessary to reason, as reason is to religion. — George Washington

No man has a more perfect reliance on the alwise and powerful dispensations of the Supreme Being than I have, nor thinks His aid more necessary. — George Washington

Extensive powers not exercised as far as was necessary have, I believe, scarcely ever failed to ruin the possessor. — George Washington

Be easy and condescending in your deportment to your officers, but not too familiar, lest you subject yourself to a want of respect, which is necessary to support a proper command. — George Washington

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

Differences in political opinion are as unavoidable as, to a certain point, they may perhaps be necessary. — George Washington

It gives me real concern to observe … that you should think it necessary to distinguish between my personal and public character, and confine your esteem to the former. — George Washington

L]eave nothing to the uncertainty of procuring a warlike apparatus at the moment of public danger. — George Washington

I have no other view than to promote the public good, and am unambitious of honors not founded in the approbation of my Country. — George Washington

I only wish, while I am a servant of the public, to know the will of my masters, that I may govern my self accordingly. — George Washington

As a very important source of strength and security, cherish public credit. — George Washington

There is an indissoluble union between a magnanimous policy and the solid rewards of public prosperity and felicity. — George Washington

Do not suffer your good nature […] to say yes when you ought to say no; remember that it is a public not a private cause that is to be injured or benefitted by your choice — George Washington

One of his officers, Henry Lee, summed up contemporary public opinion of Washington: First in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his countrymen. — George Washington

They will avoid … those Overgrown Military establishements which … are … particularly hostile to Republican liberty. — George Washington

In no instance have . . . the churches been guardians of the liberties of the people. James Madison, U.S. President — George Washington

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. — George Washington

Interwoven is the love of liberty with every ligament of the heart. — George Washington

The liberty enjoyed by the people of these states of worshiping Almighty God agreebly to their conscience, is not only among the choicest of their blessings, but also of their rights. — George Washington

It will be found an unjust and unwise jealousy to deprive a man of his natural liberty upon the supposition he may abuse it. — George Washington

Liberty, when it degrades into licentiousness, begets confusion, and frequently ends in tyranny or some woeful confusion. — George Washington

Arbitrary power is most easily established on the ruins of liberty abused to licentiousness. — George Washington

Remember, officers and soldiers, that you are fighting for the blessings of liberty. — George Washington

Interwoven as is the love of liberty with every ligament of your hearts, no recommendation of mine is necessary to fortify or confirm the attachment. — George Washington

The establishment of Civil and Religious Liberty was the Motive that induced me to the field of battle. — George Washington

Liberty, when it begins to take root, is a plant of rapid growth. — George Washington

The value of liberty was thus enhanced in our estimation by the difficulty of its attainment, and the worth of characters appreciated by the trial of adversity. — George Washington

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. — George Washington

The General hopes and trusts that every officer and man will endeavor to live and act as becomes a Christian soldier defending the dearest rights and liberties of his country. — George Washington

If we mean to support the liberty and independence which has cost us so much blood and treasure to establish, we must drive far away the demon of party spirit and local reproach. — George Washington

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. — George Washington

The Independence and Liberty you possess are the work of joint councils and joint efforts, of common dangers, sufferings and successes. — George Washington

The grand essentials to happiness in this life are something to do, something to love, and something to hope for. — George Washington Burnap

It] is the juvenal period of life when friendships are formed, and habits established, that will stick by one. — George Washington

Since the death of my father four years ago, our lives have become difficult, and I must help my family. — George Washington

I have always considered marriage as the most interesting event of one’s life, the foundation of happiness or misery. — George Washington

Resolve to be tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving, and tolerant of the weak and the wrong. Sometime in life you will have been all of these. — George Washington Carver

Where is the security for property, for reputation, for life, if the sense of religious obligation deserts the oaths . . . ? — George Washington

We should amuse our evening hours of life in cultivating the tender plants, and bringing them to perfection, before they are transplanted to a happier clime. — George Washington

The Arts and Sciences, essential to the prosperity of the State and to the ornament of human life, have a primary claim to the encouragement of every lover of his country and mankind. — George Washington

Life is always uncertain, and common prudence dictates to every man the necessity of settling his temporal concerns, while it is in his power, and while the mind is calm and undisturbed. — George Washington

My mother was the most beautiful woman I ever saw. All I am I owe to my mother. I attribute all my success in life to the moral, intellectual and physical education I received from her. — George Washington

It is an old adage that honesty is the best policy–this applies to public as well as private life–to States as well as individuals. — George Washington

A people contending for life and liberty are seldom disposed to look with a favorable eye upon either men or measures whose passions, interests or consequences will clash with those inestimable objects. — George Washington

I will move gently down the stream of life until I sleep with my fathers. — George Washington