Maxims of Washington: Political, Social, Moral and Religious |
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I purchased this book for further research on my own book about Washington (his Liberty Key) to test and confirm my view of Washington's "key to liberty" (the triad of character, culture, and constitution). I have not been disappointed. In "Maxims of Washington" one essentially finds a compendium of Washington's quotes nicely arranged by subject. Instead of web-searching his quotes and having them arrive in an unsorted jumble or together with spurious quotes from unauthoritative sources, now you have them in a form not only for ready-reference and quick look-up, but also for causal, themed reading from a master of politics.
Bottom-line: highly recommended!
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Common terms and phrases
advantage American appear arms army attended authority avoid believe better blessings Britain British called cause character Christian circumstances citizens civil commerce common conduct Congress consequences consider Constitution continue danger depend desire duty effect enemy equal established expect expense experience favor feel foreign formed France friends give hands happiness heart Heaven honor hope human importance independence Indians influence interest justice kind land latter laws liberty live mankind means measures ment military mind moral nation nature necessary never object occasion officers opinion patriotism peace political possess present principles proper protection Providence reason receive regard religion RELIGIOUS render respect sentiments situation soldiers spirit success suffer thing tion true trust Union United universal virtue Washington whole wish
Popular passages
Page 91 - Our detached and distant situation invites and enables us to pursue a different course. If we remain one people, under an efficient Government, the period is not far off when we may defy material injury from external annoyance ; when we may take such an attitude as will cause the neutrality we may at any time resolve upon, to be scrupulously respected ; when belligerent nations, under the impossibility of making acquisitions upon us, will not lightly hazard the giving us provocation; when we may...
Page 52 - This Government, the offspring of our own choice, uninfluenced and unawed, adopted upon full investigation and mature deliberation, completely free in its principles, in the distribution of its powers, uniting security with energy, and containing within itself a provision for its own amendment, has a just claim to your confidence and your support. Respect for its authority, compliance with its laws, acquiescence in its measures, are duties enjoined by the fundamental maxims of true liberty.
Page 93 - In the execution of such a plan, nothing is more essential than that permanent inveterate antipathies against particular nations, and passionate attachments for others should be excluded ; and that, in place of them, just and amicable feelings towards all should be cultivated. The nation which indulges toward another an habitual hatred, or an habitual fondness, is in some degree a slave.
Page 53 - However combinations or associations of the above description may now and then answer popular ends, they are likely, in the course of time and things, to become potent engines, by which cunning, ambitious, and unprincipled, men, will be enabled to subvert the power of the people, and to usurp for themselves the reins of government ; destroying afterwards the very engines which have lifted them to unjust dominion.
Page 304 - I have the consolation to believe, that, while choice and prudence invite me to quit the political scene, patriotism does not forbid it.
Page 92 - Why forego the advantages of so peculiar a situation ? Why quit our own to stand upon foreign ground ? Why, by interweaving our destiny with that of any part of Europe, entangle our peace and prosperity in the toils of European ambition, rivalship, interest, humor or caprice...
Page 56 - THERE is an opinion that parties in free countries are useful checks upon the administration of the government, and serve to keep alive the spirit of liberty.
Page 90 - Against the insidious wiles of foreign influence, (I conjure you to believe me, fellow-citizens,) the jealousy of a free people ought to be constantly awake; since history and experience prove that foreign influence is one of the most baneful foes of republican government.
Page 54 - Towards the preservation of your government, and the permanency of your present happy state, it is requisite, not only that you steadily discountenance irregular oppositions to its acknowledged authority, but also that you resist with care the spirit of Innovation upon its principles, however specious the pretexts.
Page 50 - In contemplating the causes which may disturb our Union, it occurs as matter of serious concern that any ground should have been furnished for characterizing parties by geographical discriminations, Northern and Southern, Atlantic and Western; whence designing men may endeavor to excite a belief that there is a real difference of local interests and views.
Bibliographic information
| Title | Maxims of Washington: Political, Social, Moral and Religious |
| Author | George Washington |
| Compiled by | John Frederick Schroeder |
| Publisher | D. Appleton, 1855 |
| Original from | Harvard University |
| Digitized | Jul 28, 2006 |
| Length | 423 pages |
| Export Citation | BiBTeX EndNote RefMan |