Writings of George Washington |
Contents
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Common terms and phrases
adopted affairs ALEXANDER HAMILTON America appointed army attention believe BENJAMIN HARRISON Britain British Bryan Fairfax cause character circumstances citizens command communication conceive conduct consequences considered constitution convention DEAR SIR disposition distress doubt duty EDMUND RANDOLPH effect endeavor enemy evils execution exertions expected favor feel France friends give GOUVERNEUR MORRIS gress Hamilton happy honor hope important interest James River jealousy JOHN AUGUSTINE WASHINGTON JOSEPH REED justice laws legislature letter liberty manner March MARQUIS DE LAFAYETTE Massachusetts matter means measures ment military militia mind MORRIS TOWN MOUNT VERNON nation nature necessary necessity never object obliged occasion officers opinion peace Pennsylvania Philadelphia political present PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS principles proper prospect purpose received respect sentiments sincere situation soldiers spirit things tion treaty troops Union United Virginia Washington whilst wish
Popular passages
Page 547 - There can be no greater error than to expect or calculate upon real favors from nation to nation. It is an illusion which experience must cure, which a just pride ought to discard.
Page 542 - 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 toward all should be cultivated.
Page 547 - ... it is folly in one nation to look for disinterested favors from another; that it must pay with a portion of its independence for whatever it may accept under that character...
Page 525 - In the discharge of this trust, I will only say, that I have with good intentions contributed towards the organization and administration of the Government the best exertions of which a very fallible judgment was capable. Not unconscious in the outset of the inferiority of my qualifications, experience, in my own eyes — perhaps still more in the eyes of others — has strengthened the motives to diffidence of myself...
Page 534 - They tend to render alien to each other those who ought to be bound together by fraternal affection. The inhabitants of our western country have lately had a useful lesson on this head. They have seen, in the negotiation by the executive, and in the unanimous ratification by the senate, of the treaty with Spain, and in the universal satisfaction at that event throughout the United States, a...
Page 545 - Excessive partiality for one foreign nation, and excessive dislike of another, cause those whom they actuate to see danger only on one side, and serve to veil and even second the arts of influence on the other.
Page 523 - I rejoice that the state of your concerns, external as well as internal, no longer renders the pursuit of inclination incompatible with the sentiment of duty or propriety; and am persuaded, whatever partiality may be retained for my services, that in the present circumstances of our country you will not disapprove my determination to retire.
Page 527 - In looking forward to the moment which is intended to terminate the career of my public life, my feelings do not permit me to suspend the deep acknowledgment of that debt of gratitude which I owe to my beloved country for the many honors it has conferred upon me...
Page 526 - ... strengthened the motives to diffidence of myself; and 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. Satisfied, that, if any circumstances have given peculiar value to my services, they were temporary, I have the consolation to believe, that, while choice and prudence invite me to .quit the political scene, patriotism does not forbid it.
Page 541 - Promote then, as an object of primary importance, institutions for the general diffusion of knowledge. In proportion as the structure of a government gives force to public opinion, it is essential that public opinion should be enlightened.