George Washington was extensively revered each throughout his lifetime and lengthy after. Although not all of his actions have been admirable by trendy requirements (he was a slaveholder for many of his life and believed Native People wanted to be “assimilated” into society), our first president oversaw the delivery of a brand new nation and helped lay out its founding ideas. These George Washington quotes present he had good recommendation to supply on a wide selection of subjects, from making buddies to main a rustic.
Attempt utilizing these quotes as prompts for journal entries, debate topics, or simply normal inspiration in your college students. We’ve provided our personal ideas on how you can use many of those quotes in your classroom. Begin by printing and hanging our High 5 George Washington Quotes posters. They’re free to obtain—simply enter your e-mail deal with within the kind on this web page!
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Recommendation From George Washington Quotes
Washington liked to advise others primarily based on his personal private experiences and knowledge. Plenty of his recommendation remains to be glorious now, tons of of years later.
“A good moral character is the first essential in a man. … It’s due to this fact extremely essential that you must endeavor not solely to be discovered however virtuous.”
There’s extra to study in a classroom than simply info! Washington knew that social-emotional learning issues too.
“Submit your sentiments with diffidence. A dictatorial fashion, although it could carry conviction, is all the time accompanied with disgust.”
Washington possible meant that it’s good to share your opinion, however you must do it in a means that reveals you acknowledge others might disagree.
“Let thy carriage be equivalent to turns into a person grave settled and attentive to that which is spoken. Contradict not, at every turn, what others say.”
Pay attention (and assume) earlier than you communicate. It’s a superb rule for debate and productive dialogue.
“Do not conceive that fine Clothes make fine Men, any greater than effective feathers make effective Birds—A plain genteel gown is extra admired and obtains extra credit score than lace & embroidery within the Eyes of the considered and smart.”
Washington was all about easy magnificence. Do your college students agree? Attempt utilizing this one as a debate subject!
“Let your heart feel for the afflictions and distresses of every one, and let your hand give in proportion to your purse; remembering all the time … that it’s not each one who asketh that deserveth charity; all, nevertheless, are worthy of the inquiry, or the deserving might endure.”
Ask your college students: Is it true that not everybody who asks for charity is deserving of it?
“Undertake not to teach your equal in the art himself professes; it savors vanity.”
Respect the specialists. It’s a lesson value studying.
“Play not the Peacock, looking everywhere about you, to see in case you be properly deck’t.”
Inform your college students this the following time you catch them trying out their reflection!
“The hours allotted for research, if really applied to it, as a substitute of working up & down stairs, & wasted in dialog with anybody who will discuss with you, will allow you to make appreciable progress in in any respect line is marked out for you.”
George Washington gave the identical recommendation mother and father and academics have been giving for ages: Concentrate on the work at hand.
“Speak seldom, but to important subjects … and make your self completely grasp of the topic.”
Converse up when you’ve gotten one thing useful to say, however make sure you understand what you’re speaking about.
“Sleep not when others communicate, sit not when others stand, speak not when you should hold your peace, stroll not when others cease.”
R-E-S-P-E-C-T … The identical rule that governs most lecture rooms was additionally certainly one of Washington’s watchwords. What different traits would your college students add to his description?
“Give not advice without being asked, and when desired, do it briefly.”
This needs to be one of many hardest issues for many of us to study: Don’t provide unsolicited recommendation.
“System in all things should be aimed at; for in execution it renders each factor less difficult.”
Obsessively organized teachers: Washington believes in you!
“Undertake not what you can’t carry out, however be careful to keep your promise.”
It’s OK in case you’re not in a position to do one thing—however when you conform to strive, make sure you comply with via.
“To contract new debts isn’t the best way to pay previous ones.”
Work this one into your lessons on financial literacy!
“It’s higher to offer no excuse than a foul one.”
Level to this one when your college students attempt to provide new and inventive explanations for why their assignments are late.
“Rise early, that by behavior it could grow to be acquainted, agreeable, wholesome, and worthwhile. It might, for some time, be irksome to do that, however that can put on off; and the practice will produce a rich harvest without end thereafter.”
That is one other terrific one for debate: Is it actually higher to be a morning particular person?
“There isn’t any observe extra harmful than that of borrowing money.”
Is that this nonetheless true in trendy society? Talk about this quote while you train children about monetary subjects like loans and credit cards.
“System in all things is the soul of business. To deliberate maturely & execute promptly is the best way to conduct it to benefit.”
Share this thought with college students while you train them executive functioning skills just like the significance of group.
“It isn’t the bottom priced items which might be all the time the most affordable—the quality is, or ought to be, as much an object with the purchaser as the price.”
Any trainer who’s had to make use of generic crayons is aware of the reality of this one!
George Washington Quotes on Friendship and Relationships
All through his life, Washington discovered the fitting option to domesticate and construct friendships and different relationships. Listed below are his ideas on the subject.
“The corporate in which you will improve most will likely be least costly to you.”
Ask your college students: What did Washington imply by “costly” on this quote?
“The views of men can solely be recognized, or guessed at, by their phrases or actions.”
Because the idiom goes: Actions communicate louder than phrases. Find more idioms to share with your class here.
“Affiliate your self with males of excellent high quality, in case you esteem your individual fame; for it is better to be alone than in bad company.”
Use this quote to open a dialogue on the variations between good and unhealthy firm, and the worth of surrounding your self with these you admire.
“Be courteous to all, however intimate with few, and let these few be properly tried earlier than you give them your confidence; true friendship is a plant of slow growth, and should bear and stand up to the shocks of adversity earlier than it’s entitled to the appellation.”
Is it higher to have only a few shut buddies relatively than a giant circle of acquaintances? Let your college students share their ideas.
“We should take human nature as we discover it, perfection falls not to the share of mortals.”
Nobody is ideal! Washington knew it, so be sure that your college students do too.
“Good firm will all the time be discovered much less expensive than unhealthy.”
Do that for a journal immediate: “What does unhealthy firm ‘price’ you?”
“It’s easy to make acquaintances, but very difficult to shake them off, nevertheless irksome and unprofitable they’re discovered, after we’ve as soon as dedicated ourselves to them.”
Select your pals correctly, as a result of it’s lots tougher to interrupt up a friendship than begin one.
“Probably the most sure option to make a man your enemy is to inform him you esteem him such.”
Washington knew the significance of language; phrases can damage.
“It’s infinitely better to have a few good Men than many detached ones.”
Kind an in depth circle of individuals you want, respect, and belief—that’s all you really want.
George Washington Quotes About Character
Considered one of Washington’s most admired traits was his sincere and forthright character, and he shared his concepts about that in these quotes.
“When a person does all he can, although it succeeds not properly, blame not him that did it.”
Growth mindset, the George Washington means! It’s higher to attempt to fail, so long as you give it your finest.
“Few men have virtue to resist the very best bidder.”
This one might sound a little bit imprecise to college students at first, so ask them to consider the which means behind the assertion.
“It’s with pleasure I obtain reproof, when reproof is due, because no person can be readier to accuse me, than I am to acknowledge an error, when I’m responsible of 1; nor extra desirous of atoning for against the law, when I’m smart of getting dedicated it.”
Admit your errors: It’s a fundamental precept and a really arduous one for many people to do.
“It’s to be lamented that great characters are seldom without a blot.”
This can be a terrific option to open up a dialog about Washington’s personal failings, equivalent to using enslaved individuals on his plantation.
“Within the composition of the human body there is a good deal of inflammable matter, nevertheless dormant it could lie for a time.”
In different phrases, any particular person may be roused to anger or motion underneath the fitting circumstances. Ask your college students: What’s your individual private “inflammable matter”?
“Ours is a type of wrestle designed, I dare say, by Windfall to strive the persistence, fortitude, and advantage of males. None, due to this fact, who’s engaged in it, will endure himself, I belief, to sink underneath difficulties, or be discouraged by hardships. If he cannot do as he wishes, he must do what he can.“
Do the very best you possibly can with what you’ve gotten … it’s all we will ask of anybody.
“Men’s minds are as variant as their faces.”
This one makes a terrific journal immediate: What did Washington imply, and why is it essential?
“In useless would that man claim the tribute of patriotism who ought to labor to subvert these nice pillars.”
By “nice pillars,” Washington meant the founding ideas of our nation. Have your college students perform a little research into what Washington believed these pillars stood for.
“Three things prompt men to a regular discharge of their duty in time of motion: pure bravery, hope of reward, and worry of punishment.”
Are these the one causes individuals step ahead to serve? Discover out what your college students assume.
“Nothing is a larger stranger to my breast, or a sin that my soul extra abhors, than that black and detestable one, ingratitude.”
Gratitude is extra than simply saying “thanks.” Brainstorm methods to exhibit gratitude along with your class, and focus on why it’s so essential.
“An individual who’s anxious to be a frontrunner of the style, or one of many first to comply with it, will definitely seem within the eyes of considered males to have nothing better than a frequent change of dress to recommend him to notice.”
Don’t decide individuals by their look. It’s an previous commonplace, and for good cause. Speak along with your college students concerning the worth of magnificence that goes greater than skin-deep.
Justice and Liberty George Washington Quotes
Washington firmly believed he was serving to set up a brand new nation that may certainly promise liberty and justice for all (in time). These quotes exhibit his hopes and opinions.
“For if Males are to be precluded from providing their Sentiments on a matter … cause is of no use to us; the freedom of Speech may be taken away, and, dumb and silent we could also be led, like sheep, to the Slaughter.”
Our Founding Fathers valued freedom of speech so extremely, they positioned it first within the Structure. Ask college students to replicate on why this proper was so valued by these males.
“Liberty, when it begins to take root, is a plant of fast development.”
As a category, search for different examples of liberty taking root all through historical past. Does it all the time develop quickly?
“But when the legal guidelines are to be so trampled upon with impunity, and a minority is to dictate to the bulk, there may be an finish put at one stroke to republican authorities, and nothing but anarchy and confusion is to be expected thereafter …”
Subject for debate: In our present society, does a minority dictate to the bulk? Who precisely makes up the majorities and minorities?
“Nothing is too extravagant to expect from men who conceive they’re ungratefully and unjustly dealt by.”
After we take care of individuals unfairly, we shouldn’t be shocked by their reactions. How does this have an effect on your individual dealings with college students, in addition to society on a bigger scale?
“As mankind grow to be extra liberal, they are going to be extra apt to permit that every one those that conduct themselves as worthy members of the Neighborhood are equally entitled to the safety of civil Authorities. I hope ever to see America among the foremost nations in examples of justice and liberality.“
It’s an attention-grabbing query: Is America among the many finest nations in the case of liberty and justice for all?
“There never was a law yet made, I conceive, that hit the taste exactly of every man, or each a part of the group; after all, if this be a cause for opposition, no legislation may be executed in any respect with out drive, and each man or set of males will in that case lower and carve for themselves.”
Whether or not you’re speaking about class guidelines or main legal guidelines, it’s true that you could’t please everybody. On condition that reality, ask your college students to think about how we will make the very best guidelines and legal guidelines typically.
“A person’s intentions ought to be allowed in some respects to plead for his actions.”
Do good intentions excuse unhealthy actions? Let your college students debate this one out.
“The foundation of our Empire was not laid in the gloomy age of Ignorance and Superstition, however at an Epoch when the rights of mankind have been higher understood and extra clearly outlined, than at any former interval.”
Contemplate the rights of mankind as we conceive of them right this moment. How do they examine to the rights Washington believed in?
“Truth will ultimately prevail the place pains is taken to convey it to mild.”
Discover occasions in historical past when individuals have gone to nice pains to convey reality to mild. Did these pains finally convey concerning the desired outcomes?
“When one side only of a story is heard, and infrequently repeated, the human thoughts turns into impressed with it, insensibly.”
Educate your college students to think about a number of factors of view, even (or maybe particularly) people who battle with their very own.
“The due administration of justice is the firmest pillar of excellent Authorities.”
Meals for thought: Will we all agree on the definition of “justice”?
“I had all the time hoped that this land may grow to be a safe & agreeable Asylum to the virtuous & persecuted a part of mankind, to no matter nation they could belong.”
One other query for college kids: If Washington have been alive right this moment, what opinions may he maintain on the subject of immigration and the trail to citizenship?
“I rejoice in a perception that mental mild will spring up at midnight corners of the earth; that freedom of enquiry will produce liberality of conduct.”
Greater than 200 years later, has Washington’s prediction held true? This might be an awesome subject for a persuasive essay.
“One of the best and only safe road to honor, glory, and true dignity is justice.”
Journal immediate: How does justice present dignity, honor, and glory?
George Washington Management Quotes
As a normal, president, and head of a serious plantation, Washington used his management expertise each single day. He had a lot to say on what makes sturdy, efficient leaders.
“100 thousand males, coming one after one other, can’t transfer a Ton weight; however the united strength of 50 would transport it with ease.”
Stronger collectively: Ask your college students to search for examples of occasions when this has been true.
“To please everybody is impossible; have been I to undertake it, I ought to most likely please no one.”
If it’s true that we will’t please all people all the time, what ought to an individual attempt for of their relationships with others?
“I shall make it essentially the most agreeable a part of my obligation to check benefit, and reward the brave and deserving.”
These are glorious phrases for academics to reside by. Keep in mind to take time to search for behaviors and achievements value celebrating in your classroom!
“Instance, whether or not it’s good or unhealthy, has a powerful influence.”
This quote goes hand-in-hand with one other widespread principle: Lead by instance. As a trainer, your actions are simply as essential as your lesson plans.
“In executing the duties of my current essential station, I can promise nothing but purity of intentions, and, in carrying these into impact, constancy and diligence.”
Dialogue subject: Have all of our presidents had “purity of intentions”? What does that imply?
“A individuals unused to restraint should be led, they will not be drove.”
This can be a actually attention-grabbing thought: main relatively than driving. How do you lead your college students relatively than driving them? Is that all the time attainable?
“Expertise has taught us that men will not adopt and carry into execution measures the best calculated for their own good with out the intervention of a coercive energy.”
Washington appears to be saying that, left to their very own units, individuals received’t all the time make the very best selections. Do you and your college students agree?
“I want to walk in such a line as will give most normal satisfaction.”
If Washington lived right this moment, would he be capable of win an election by strolling a middle line? See what your college students assume.
“Within the appointments to the nice workplaces of the federal government, my purpose has been to mix geographical scenario, and typically different issues, with abilities and fitness of known characters.”
Why did Washington worth geographical variety when constructing his first cupboard? Is that also essential right this moment?
“The true distinction … between what known as a effective Regiment, and an detached one will ever, upon investigation, be discovered to originate in, and rely on the care, or the inattention, of the Officers belonging to them.”
Leaders are finally liable for a gaggle’s success, one thing academics know higher than anybody.
“A spread in punishment is of utility, in addition to a proportion.”
Washington believed in punishment that match the crime, one thing academics can keep in mind when forming their very own classroom behavior management policies.
“Typically I esteem it a superb maxim, that the best way to preserve the confidence of the people durably is to advertise their true curiosity.”
Do your finest by individuals, and so they’ll imagine and belief in you. That’s good recommendation for anybody.
George Washington Quotes on Private Ideas
Washington thought of himself a person of sturdy character, although he acknowledged his failings readily. Check out his most deeply held beliefs on the right option to reside.
“To speak evil of any one, except there may be unequivocal proofs of their deserving it, is an harm for which there is no such thing as a ample reparation.”
That is good for college kids (and academics) to recollect: Don’t accuse individuals of one thing with out understanding the entire story.
“If we can’t learn wisdom from experience, it’s arduous to say the place it’s to be discovered.”
Ask your college students to replicate on this assertion. What do they know now that they didn’t after they have been youthful?
“Integrity and firmness is all I can promise; these, be the voyage lengthy or brief, by no means shall forsake me although I be abandoned by all males.”
Talk about the definition of the phrase “integrity” along with your college students. How can they show integrity in their very own “voyages”?
“Patience is a noble virtue, and, when rightly exercised, doesn’t fail of its reward.”
Journal immediate: Take into consideration a time in your individual life while you have been rewarded by having persistence.
“It’s a lot simpler always to prevent an evil than to rectify errors.”
Ask college students to search for examples of occasions when stopping an issue would have been a lot simpler than coping with the aftermath. Is Washington’s assertion all the time true?
“I hate deception, even the place the creativeness solely is worried.”
Mendacity to your self remains to be mendacity. Invite college students to replicate on occasions after they wanted to be sincere with themselves.
“Without virtue, and without integrity, the best abilities and essentially the most sensible accomplishments can by no means achieve the respect, and conciliate the esteem, of the actually useful a part of mankind.”
The downfall of many main athletes, musicians, politicians, and extra present Washington’s assertion to be true. Can your college students discover examples to show his level?
“From thinking proceeds speaking; thence to performing is commonly however a single step. However how irrevocable and large!”
Replicate on occasions when a small motion had main penalties, both good or unhealthy.
“Labor to maintain alive in your breast that little spark of celestial fire called conscience.”
Washington pictured his conscience as a “celestial fireplace.” Ask your college students what they image their conscience as—a little bit voice of their thoughts? A tiny particular person deep inside? Their solutions might shock you.
“There may be nothing so more likely to produce peace as to be well prepared to meet the enemy.”
This makes a superb debate subject: Do it is advisable have a robust army so that you simply by no means want to make use of it?
“I by no means say something of a person that I’ve the smallest scruple of saying to him.”
Pull out this quote to level out the hazards of speaking about individuals behind their backs.
“Why ought to I count on to be exempt from censure; the unfailing lot of an elevated station?”
Ought to highly effective individuals be exempt from reproach? In a time when highly effective political leaders are being known as into courtroom to reply for his or her actions, this quote is extra related than ever.
“It’s an previous adage that honesty is the best policy—this is applicable to public in addition to personal life—to States in addition to people.”
Journal immediate: Is there ever a time when honesty is NOT the very best coverage?
“Happiness depends more upon the internal frame of a person’s own mind—than on the externals on this planet.”
As we emphasize the significance of student mental health, Washington’s phrases proceed to ring true.
“Painful as the duty is to describe the dark side of our affairs, it typically turns into a matter of indispensable necessity.”
Why is it so essential to convey our misdeeds to mild? Who advantages after we do?
“For it’s a fastened precept with me, that whatever is done should be done well.”
All the time strive your finest. Even Washington can’t ask something extra!
Extra George Washington Quotes
All through his life, Washington had a little bit bit to say on nearly each subject! Listed below are extra attention-grabbing and inspirational quotes from the Father of Our Nation.
“I commend you, nevertheless, for passing the time in as merry a way as you presumably may; it is assuredly better to go laughing than crying thro’ the rough journey of life.”
Washington clearly believed in having fun with the small issues in life. Encourage your college students (and your self!) to do the identical.
“It’s in useless, I understand, to search for ease and happiness in a world of troubles.”
Washington clearly had his personal struggles to remain constructive. Ask your college students: Have you ever ever felt prefer it’s only a “world of troubles”?
“Data is in each nation the surest basis of public happiness.”
Journal immediate: Is it true that data makes individuals happier? Or do you as a substitute imagine that “ignorance is bliss”?
“The Arts and Sciences, essential to the prosperity of the State and to the decoration of human life, have a major declare to the encouragement of each lover of his nation and mankind.”
Subject for dialogue: Are the humanities and sciences important to our prosperity as a rustic?
“Heroes have made poets, and poets heroes.”
Discover examples of heroes lauded in poetry to assist each elements of this declare.
“The motives which predominate most in human affairs [are] self-love and self-interest.”
![The motives which predominate most in human affairs [are] self-love and self-interest.](https://classroomwishlist.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/87-47.jpg "The motives which predominate most in human affairs [are] self-love and self-interest.")
Debate subject: Are individuals basically egocentric at coronary heart?
“Human happiness and ethical obligation are inseparably related.”
Washington believed that in case you shirked your obligation, no matter that may be, you couldn’t be blissful. Do your college students agree?
“Love is said to be an involuntary passion, and it’s, due to this fact, contended that it can’t be resisted. That is true partly solely, for like all issues else, when nourished and equipped plentifully with ailment, it’s fast in its progress; however let these be withdrawn and it could be stifled in its delivery or a lot stinted in its development.”
In different phrases, Washington believed love doesn’t essentially conquer all. How do your college students really feel about this assertion?
“Love is a mighty fairly factor; however like all different scrumptious issues, it’s cloying; and when the primary transports of the eagerness begins to subside, which it assuredly will do, and yield—oftentimes too late—to extra sober reflections, it serves to evince, that love is too dainty a food to live upon alone.”
Washington additionally believed that man can’t reside on love alone, opening up an attention-grabbing dialogue subject: What else is required for a robust romantic relationship?
“I’m not solely retired from all public employments, however I’m retiring inside myself, and shall be capable of view the solitary stroll and tread the paths of private life with heartfelt satisfaction.”
When it got here time to retire from public life, Washington was very glad to take action. As a trainer, do you stay up for retiring from the classroom? What is going to you do along with your life afterwards?
“A pure father or mother has solely two issues principally to think about, the improvement of his son, and the funds to do it with.”
Even Washington complained concerning the worth of training! Why is training so costly in america? Ask your college students to ponder this subject.
“Although, in reviewing the incidents of my administration, I’m unconscious of intentional error, I’m however too sensible of my defects to not assume it possible that I’ll have dedicated many errors.”
A number of hundred years later, we will look again at Washington’s presidency with the benefit of time. Was he proper? Did he commit “many errors”? What have been a few of these errors, by right this moment’s requirements?
“With a coronary heart full of affection and gratitude, I now take leave of you. I most devoutly want that your later days could also be as affluent and blissful as your former ones have been superb and honorable.”
Washington stepped down from workplace voluntarily, stunning the nation and establishing a serious precedent for presidents. Learn his entire farewell address along with your class, and speak about how his selection affected the nation, then and within the following years.
“We should always amuse our evening hours of life in cultivating the tender vegetation, and bringing them to perfection, earlier than they’re transplanted to a happier clime.”
What’s Washington utilizing vegetation as a metaphor for on this assertion? The place is the “happier clime”?
“I will move gently down the stream of life till I sleep with my fathers.”
Journal immediate: What does this assertion say about how Washington seen life and loss of life?
“I’m simply going. Have me decently buried; and don’t let my physique be put into the Vault in lower than three days after I’m lifeless. … Tis well.”
College students may be amused to study Washington was afraid of being buried alive, which was why he requested for his funeral to be postponed by three days.
“It’s properly, I die arduous, however I am not afraid to go.”
As a category, study extra about Washington’s ultimate sickness and loss of life. Why was he “not afraid to go”? What religion sustained him?
Apocryphal George Washington Quotes
When somebody turns into as well-known and beloved as George Washington has, it’s fairly possible that myths and legends will spring up. That’s undoubtedly true for Washington—listed here are some quotes attributed to him that he by no means actually stated in any respect.
Misquote: “I can’t inform a lie, Pa. I did lower it with my hatchet.”
Sorry to burst your bubble, however the story about Washington chopping down the cherry tree is a fable. His first biographer created the story, and it caught on like wildfire. Learn an account of this legend, and focus on why it grew to become so well-liked.
Misquote: “It’s not possible to rightly govern a nation with out God and the Bible.”
That is one other invention from a biography written many years after Washington died. Although Washington was actually a person of religion, there’s no evidence he ever made this statement.
Misquote: “When authorities takes away residents’ proper to bear arms, it turns into residents’ obligation to remove authorities’s proper to control.”
Nobody fairly is aware of how this quote grew to become attributed to Washington, however it simply doesn’t appear in any of his recorded writings or speeches. Encourage your college students to see if they’ll discover examples of this misquote used incorrectly, and discuss concerning the risks of misinformation.
Misquote: “Benefit from the Indian hemp seed and sow it in every single place.”
Sure, George Washington grew hemp at Mount Vernon. However it wasn’t for the rationale your college students may assume, and this misquote twists his phrases on the cultivation of the crop. Read the real quote here, and have college students analysis the non-recreational makes use of of hemp as a money crop.
Misquote: “It’s fantastic what we will do if we’re all the time doing.”
This one is near true, however it was truly stated by one other Founding Father, Thomas Jefferson. Explore more spurious George Washington quotes with your class at the Mount Vernon website.
Don’t overlook to obtain your free George Washington posters, that includes 5 of our favourite quotes for the classroom.
Plus, Meaningful Presidents’ Day Activities for the Classroom.
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