56+ George Washington Quotes About Change to Inspire Growth

If we cannot learn wisdom from experience, it is hard to say where it is to be found.

The company in which you will improve most will be least expensive to you.

I rejoice in a belief that intellectual light will spring up in the dark corners of the earth; that freedom of enquiry will produce liberality of conduct.

System in all things should be aimed at; for in execution it renders every thing more easy.

For it is a fixed principle with me, that whatever is done should be done well.

It is much easier at all times to prevent an evil than to rectify mistakes.

I can bear to hear of imputed or real errors. The man who wishes to stand well in the opinion of others must do this; because he is thereby enabled to correct his faults, or remove prejudices which are imbibed against him.

It is with pleasure I receive reproof, when reproof is due, because no person can be readier to accuse me, than I am to acknowledge an error, when I am guilty of one; nor more desirous of atoning for a crime, when I am sensible of having committed it.

Rise early, that by habit it may become familiar, agreeable, healthy, and profitable. It may, for a while, be irksome to do this, but that will wear off; and the practice will produce a rich harvest forever thereafter.

Men’s minds are as variant as their faces.

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

Knowledge is in every country the surest basis of public happiness.

The hours allotted for study, if really applied to it, instead of running up & down stairs, & wasted in conversation with any one who will talk with you, will enable you to make considerable progress in whatsoever line is marked out for you.

We must take human nature as we find it, perfection falls not to the share of mortals.

It is not the lowest priced goods that are always the cheapest—the quality is, or ought to be, as much an object with the purchaser as the price.

Speak seldom, but to important subjects … and make yourself perfectly master of the subject.

System in all things is the soul of business. To deliberate maturely & execute promptly is the way to conduct it to advantage.

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.

The harder the conflict, the greater the triumph.

We should never despair, our Situation before has been unpromising and has changed for the better, so I trust, it will again. If new difficulties arise, we must only put forth New Exertions and proportion our efforts to the exigency of the times.

If he cannot do as he wishes, he must do what he can.

Ours is a kind of struggle designed, I dare say, by Providence to try the patience, fortitude, and virtue of men. None, therefore, who is engaged in it, will suffer himself, I trust, to sink under difficulties, or be discouraged by hardships.

Patience is a noble virtue, and, when rightly exercised, does not fail of its reward.

There is nothing so likely to produce peace as to be well prepared to meet the enemy.

It is to be lamented that great characters are seldom without a blot.

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.

Integrity and firmness is all I can promise; these, be the voyage long or short, never shall forsake me though I be deserted by all men.

Truth will ultimately prevail where pains is taken to bring it to light.

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

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

It is assuredly better to go laughing than crying thro’ the rough journey of life.

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

Human happiness and moral duty are inseparably connected.

To contract new debts is not the way to pay old ones.

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

There is no practice more dangerous than that of borrowing money.

Undertake not what you cannot perform, but be careful to keep your promise.

Give not advice without being asked, and when desired, do it briefly.

Undertake not to teach your equal in the art himself professes; it savors arrogance.

The most certain way to make a man your enemy is to tell him you esteem him such.

It is easy to make acquaintances, but very difficult to shake them off, however irksome and unprofitable they are found, after we have once committed ourselves to them.

Associate yourself with men of good quality, if you esteem your own reputation; for it is better to be alone than in bad company.

Good company will always be found much less expensive than bad.

Nothing is a greater stranger to my breast, or a sin that my soul more abhors, than that black and detestable one, ingratitude.

Few men have virtue to withstand the highest bidder.

From thinking proceeds speaking; thence to acting is often but a single step. But how irrevocable and tremendous!

The basis of our political systems is the right of the people to make and to alter their constitutions of government.

Let there be no change by usurpation.

Though this in one instance may be the instrument of good, it is the customary weapon by which free governments are destroyed.

Citizens, by birth or choice, of a common country, that country has a right to concentrate your affections.

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

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.

I had always hoped that this land might become a safe & agreeable Asylum to the virtuous & persecuted part of mankind, to whatever nation they might belong.

A free people ought not only to be armed, but disciplined.

The due administration of justice is the firmest pillar of good Government.

In general I esteem it a good maxim, that the best way to preserve the confidence of the people durably is to promote their true interest.