He left us a legacy of wisdom in what he said as well as what he did.
An engraving of George Washington from 1859.
To honor America’s vision along with those who served to protect it, we should remember how that vision was put into words as well as actions by perhaps our most indispensable veteran—George Washington.
Washington was essential to our revolution’s success, the creation of our Constitution and the precedent of how to govern under it. Perhaps most telling of the latter is the fact that he voluntarily stepped down from power out of principle, which King George III said made him the man of the age.
Washington knew his efforts were a means to an end—maintaining liberty. We would profit by reflecting on his words and whether the vision we act upon today reflects that vision or distorts it.
1. “[Freedom is] a blessing, on which all the good and evil of life depends.”
2. “The spirit of freedom beat too high in us to submit to slavery.”
3. “We have taken up arms in defense of our liberty, our property; our wives and our children: We are determined to preserve them or die.”
4. “The cause of America and of liberty…against which all the force and artifice of tyranny will never be able to prevail.”
5. “Our cause is noble. It is the cause of mankind!”
6. “We mean to support the liberty and independence which have cost us so much blood and treasure to establish.”
7. “Express your utmost horror and detestation of the man who wishes, under any specious pretenses, to overturn the liberties of our country.”
8. “As the sword was the last resort for the preservation of our liberties, so ought it be the first to be laid aside when those liberties are firmly established.”
9. “Your union ought to be considered as a main prop to your liberty.”
10. “Liberty will find itself…where the Government…[will] maintain all in the secure and tranquil enjoyment of the rights of person and property.”
11. “Government…[is] instituted to protect the consciences of men from oppression.”
12. “Everyone will reap the fruit of his labors; every one will enjoy his own acquisitions without molestation and without danger.”
13. “[Government] has no more right to put their hands into my pockets, without my consent, than I have to put my hands into yours.”
14. “The marvel of all history is the patience with which men and women submit to burdens unnecessarily laid upon them by their governments.”
15. “Government is not reason. It is not eloquence. It is a force, like fire: a dangerous servant and a terrible master. Never for a moment should it be left to irresponsible action.”
16. “It will be found an unjust and unwise jealousy to deprive a man of his natural liberty on the supposition that he may abuse it.”
17. “All those who conduct themselves as worthy members of the community are equally entitled to the protections of civil government.”
18. “Maintain all in the secure and tranquil enjoyments of the rights of person and property.”
19. “The preservation of the sacred fire of liberty and the destiny of the republican model of government are justly considered, perhaps, as deeply, as finally staked on the experiment entrusted to the hands of the American People.”
20. “It has always been my creed that we should not be left as an awful monument to prove, “that mankind, under the most favorable circumstances, are unequal to the task of governing themselves, and therefore made for a master.”
Without George Washington, America, which he called “this land of equal liberty,” with “the fairest prospect of happiness and prosperity that ever was presented to man,” would probably not exist.
During many years as “first in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his countrymen,” George Washington left us a legacy of wisdom in what he said as well as what he did.
Written by Gary M. Galles for FEE (Foundation for Economic Education) ~ November 11, 2021