War Quotes by George Washington

Every post is honourable in which a man can serve his country.

— George Washington

Like as a wise man in time of peace prepares for war.

— George Washington

A bad war is fought with a good mind.

— George Washington

the harder the conflict, the greater the triumph.

— George Washington

Real men despise battle, but will never run from it.

— George Washington

To place any dependence upon militia, is, assuredly, resting upon a broken staff.

— George Washington

Government is not reason, it is not eloquence, it is force...Never for a moment should it be left to irresponsible action.

— George Washington

To be prepared for war is one of the most effective means of preserving peace.

— George Washington

My first wish is to see this plague of mankind, war, banished from the earth.

— George Washington

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

— George Washington

..the establishment of Civil and Religious Liberty was the Motive that induced me to the field of battle.

— George Washington

[L]eave nothing to the uncertainty of procuring a warlike apparatus at the moment of public danger.

— George Washington

Nothing short of self-respect and that justice which is essential to a national character ought to involve us in war.

— George Washington

The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional…

— George Washington

My first wish is to see this plague of mankind banished from the earth, and the sons and daughters of this world…

— George Washington

If we desire to avoid insult, we must be able to repel it; if we desire to secure peace, one of the…

— George Washington

The constitution vests the power of declaring war in Congress; therefore no offensive expedition of importance can be undertaken until after they…

— George Washington

Our conflict is not likely to cease so soon as every good man would wish. The measure of iniquity is not yet…

— George Washington

One of his officers, Henry Lee, summed up contemporary public opinion of Washington: First in war, first in peace, and first in…

— George Washington

I know [patriotism] exists, and I know it has done much in the present contest. But a great and lasting war can…

— George Washington

Among the many interesting objects which will engage your attention that of providing for the common defense will merit particular regard. To…

— George Washington

The General most earnestly requires, and expects, a due observance of those articles of war, established for the government of the army…

— George Washington

Passionate attachment to another nation produces a variety of evils... the illusion of common interests where no real common interests exist; adopting…

— George Washington

If we remain one people, under an efficient government, the period is not far off when we may defy material injury from…

— George Washington

To each of my Nephews, William Augustine Washington, George Lewis, George Steptoe Washington, Bushrod Washington, and Samuel Washington, I give one of…

— George Washington

In politics as in religion, my tenets are few and simple. The leading one of which, and indeed that which embraces most…

— George Washington

The art of war is at once comprehensive and complicated; ... it demands much previous study; and ... the possession of it,…

— George Washington

For the sake of humanity it is devoutly to be wished that the manly employment of agriculture and the humanizing benefits of…

— George Washington

I do not mean to exclude altogether the idea of patriotism. I know it exists, and I know it has done much…

— George Washington

“Men may speculate as they will; they may talk of patriotism; they may draw a few examples from ancient story, of great…

— George Washington

War - An act of violence whose object is to constrain the enemy, to accomplish our will.

— George Washington

Military arrangement, and movements in consequence, like the mechanism of a clock, will be imperfectand disordered by the want of a part.

— George Washington

If we desire to secure peace...it must be known that we are at all times ready for war.

— George Washington

Government is not reason; it is not eloquent; it is force. Like fire, it is a dangerous servant and a fearful master.

— George Washington

Avoiding likewise the accumulation of debt, not only by shunning occasions of expense, but by vigorous exertions in time of peace to…

— George Washington

We began a contest for liberty ill provided with the means for the war, relying on our patriotism to supply the deficiency.…

— George Washington

..avoiding likewise the accumulation of debt, not only by shunning occasions of expense, but by vigorous exertions in time of peace to…

— George Washington

Nothing short of self-respect and that justice which is essential to a national character ought to involve us in war; for sure…

— George Washington

The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional…

— George Washington

I rejoice in a belief that intellectual light will spring up in the dark corners of the earth; that freedom of enquiry…

— George Washington