---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Washington insisted—possibly to rally his…"
description: "\"“Washington insisted—possibly to rally his own resolve—that they must never lose sight of “the goodness of our cause.” Difficulties were not insurmount..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd9/david-mccullough-1091_perseverance_washington-insisted-possibly-to-rally-hi_2945538.png"
---

#  Washington insisted—possibly to rally his own resolve—that…

![“Washington insisted—possibly to rally his own resolve—that they must never lose sight of “the goodness of our cause.” Difficulties were not insurmountable. “Perseverance and spirit have done wonders in all ages.” quote by David McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd9/david-mccullough-1091_perseverance_washington-insisted-possibly-to-rally-hi_2945538.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd9/david-mccullough-1091_perseverance_washington-insisted-possibly-to-rally-hi_2945538.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd9/david-mccullough-1091_perseverance_washington-insisted-possibly-to-rally-hi_2945538.png)

> ““Washington insisted—possibly to rally his own resolve—that they must never lose sight of “the goodness of our cause.” Difficulties were not insurmountable. “Perseverance and spirit have done wonders in all ages.””

[David McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mccullough/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Washington urged focus on moral purpose, believing perseverance and spirit can overcome challenges.

**In simple terms:** Purposeful perseverance yields success.

Key Takeaway

Stay committed to noble goals.

Themes

leadership perseverance morality historical perspective

Mood

inspirational historical

Type

leadership philosophical

When to use this quote

- military campaigns
- political reforms
- personal challenges

Key Concepts

resilience collective will ethical conviction

Questions to Reflect On

- What drives your perseverance?
- How do you define a good cause?

A Different Perspective

Overcoming obstacles may require external aid.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Insurmountable Perseverance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/insurmountable-perseverance-4412433/) [Perseverance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perseverance/) [Perseverance Spirit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perseverance-spirit-3616465/) [Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/washington/) [Washington Insisted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/washington-insisted-4412432/)

## Related quotes

> [Perseverance and spirit have done wonders in all ages.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/perseverance-and-spirit-have-done-wonders-in-all-ages/)

[George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/)

> [“Washington had been the one member of the family ever to go off and work with John Roebling at bridgebuilding.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mccullough/washington-had-been-the-one-member-of-the-family-ever-to-go-off-and/)

[David McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mccullough/)

> [Washington was a man of exceptional, almost excessive self-command, rarely permitting himself any show of discouragement or despair.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mccullough/washington-was-a-man-of-exceptional-almost-excessive-self-command/)

[David McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mccullough/)

> [“Washington was no politician as we understand the word," replied Ratcliffe abruptly. "He stood outside of politics. The thing couldn't be done today. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-adams/washington-was-no-politician-as-we-understand-the-word-replied/)

[Henry Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-adams/)

> [In Washington, the public and the private intertwine in such a way that they can't be easily separated. This is the city where the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katharine-graham/in-washington-the-public-and-the-private-intertwine-in-such-a-way/)

[Katharine Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katharine-graham/)

> [Years back, I had Chris Samuels when I was in Washington as a mentor. I always wanted to return that favor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trent-williams/years-back-i-had-chris-samuels-when-i-was-in-washington-as-a-mentor-i/)

[Trent Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trent-williams/)

> [You've got Washington picking winners and losers. And so, all of a sudden, decisions are being made on what helps politicians, not what helps…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeb-hensarling/you-ve-got-washington-picking-winners-and-losers-and-so-all-of-a/)

[Jeb Hensarling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeb-hensarling/)

> [Security is a component of everyday life that one spending time in Washington, D.C., gets accustomed to. Metal detectors, police vehicle barriers and heavily-armed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-crapo/security-is-a-component-of-everyday-life-that-one-spending-time-in/)

[Mike Crapo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-crapo/)

> [Washington culture has always had a difficult time acknowledging untruth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-noah/washington-culture-has-always-had-a-difficult-time-acknowledging/)

[Timothy Noah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-noah/)

> [Everything about Washington is inconsistent, because they say one thing and do another, which is what my opponent, Claire McCaskill, is very, very good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-steelman/everything-about-washington-is-inconsistent-because-they-say-one/)

[Sarah Steelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-steelman/)

> [What we have ignored is what citizens can do and the importance of real involvement of the people involved - versus just having somebody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elinor-ostrom/what-we-have-ignored-is-what-citizens-can-do-and-the-importance-of/)

[Elinor Ostrom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elinor-ostrom/)

> [The American people reject the idea of giving Washington a blank check to increase the debt limit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-roby/the-american-people-reject-the-idea-of-giving-washington-a-blank/)

[Martha Roby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-roby/)

> [I like 'The Usual Suspects'. Great film. I also like 'Scarface', films like that. Lots of gangster films. I really like watching all kinds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barkhad-abdi/i-like-the-usual-suspects-great-film-i-also-like-scarface-films-like/)

[Barkhad Abdi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barkhad-abdi/)

> [I have always been a big meta guy because I think the way journalism is practiced in Washington, and the way everyone sort of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-leibovich/i-have-always-been-a-big-meta-guy-because-i-think-the-way-journalism/)

[Mark Leibovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-leibovich/)

> [Nobody can tell me that no changes are necessary in Washington.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-weld/nobody-can-tell-me-that-no-changes-are-necessary-in-washington/)

[William Weld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-weld/)

## More by David McCullough

> [With the Truman book, I wrote the entire account of his experiences in World War I before going over to Europe to follow his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mccullough/with-the-truman-book-i-wrote-the-entire-account-of-his-experiences-in/)

[David McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mccullough/)

> [“Steamboats by this time were becoming a familiar presence on the rivers and coastal waters of America, but not until 1838 did steam-powered ships…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mccullough/steamboats-by-this-time-were-becoming-a-familiar-presence-on-the/)

[David McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mccullough/)

> [I feel that history is in many ways the most important of all subjects because it is about everything and because it's about who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mccullough/i-feel-that-history-is-in-many-ways-the-most-important-of-all/)

[David McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mccullough/)

> [“Even mighty states and kingdoms are not exempted. If we look into history, we shall find some nations rising from contemptible beginnings and spreading…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mccullough/even-mighty-states-and-kingdoms-are-not-exempted-if-we-look-into/)

[David McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mccullough/)

> [History isn't just what happened, but what happened to whom and why and what would have been different if the cast of characters had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mccullough/history-isn-t-just-what-happened-but-what-happened-to-whom-and-why/)

[David McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mccullough/)

> [Nobody ever lived in the past.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mccullough/nobody-ever-lived-in-the-past/)

[David McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mccullough/)

> [“Only TR openly declared his love for the job. “Nobody ever enjoyed the presidency as I did,” he boasted, and by all evidence that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mccullough/only-tr-openly-declared-his-love-for-the-job-nobody-ever-enjoyed-the/)

[David McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mccullough/)

> [“s ships Phoenix and Rose, in the company of three tenders, cast off their moorings at Staten Island and started up the harbor under…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mccullough/s-ships-phoenix-and-rose-in-the-company-of-three-tenders-cast-off/)

[David McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mccullough/)

> [“a people may let a King fall, yet still remain a people, but if a King let his people slip from him, he is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mccullough/a-people-may-let-a-king-fall-yet-still-remain-a-people-but-if-a-king/)

[David McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mccullough/)

> [Why limit yourself to the experience of your own relatively brief time on earth, according to your biological clock, when the whole realm of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mccullough/why-limit-yourself-to-the-experience-of-your-own-relatively-brief/)

[David McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mccullough/)

> [“He worked at a plain, tall desk at which he wrote standing up or perched on a high stool,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mccullough/he-worked-at-a-plain-tall-desk-at-which-he-wrote-standing-up-or/)

[David McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mccullough/)

> [“Nothing happens in isolation. Everything that happens has consequences. We”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mccullough/nothing-happens-in-isolation-everything-that-happens-has-consequences/)

[David McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mccullough/)

> [America faces an enemy who believes in enforced ignorance. And all that we stand for is the open mind, the generous spirit, the ideal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mccullough/america-faces-an-enemy-who-believes-in-enforced-ignorance-and-all/)

[David McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mccullough/)

> [My shorthand answer is that I try to write the kind of book that I would like to read. If I can make it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mccullough/my-shorthand-answer-is-that-i-try-to-write-the-kind-of-book-that-i/)

[David McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mccullough/)

> [“Seen under the microscope, Stegomyia is a creature of striking beauty. Its general color is dark gray, but the thorax is marked with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mccullough/seen-under-the-microscope-stegomyia-is-a-creature-of-striking-beauty/)

[David McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mccullough/)

[Explore all 291 David McCullough quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mccullough/)

## More Perseverance quotes

> [“It takes tremendous courage, persistence, and perseverance to pursue your ultimate purpose.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debasish-mridha/it-takes-tremendous-courage-persistence-and-perseverance-to-pursue/)

[Debasish Mridha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debasish-mridha/)

> [“I met Suffering on a quiet road, just as the sun was setting behind me. Its presence was heavy, like an old coat I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sanjo-jendayi/i-met-suffering-on-a-quiet-road-just-as-the-sun-was-setting-behind-me/)

[Sanjo Jendayi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sanjo-jendayi/)

> [It doesn't matter what your circumstances are at the present moment. Think positively, expect only favorable results and situations, and circumstances will change accordingly.Your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dranil-kr-sinha/it-doesn-t-matter-what-your-circumstances-are-at-the-present-moment/)

[DrAnil Kr Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dranil-kr-sinha/)

> [“Good morning,” one of the soldiers said. “I’m Captain Joseph Walker and this is Sergeant James Vanetten. We are members of the One-Hundred-and-First Airborne…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shafter-bailey/good-morning-one-of-the-soldiers-said-i-m-captain-joseph-walker-and/)

[Shafter Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shafter-bailey/)

> [In freedom can be found many devotions: a devotion to love, a desire to believe, a willingness to be happy, a perseverance to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/in-freedom-can-be-found-many-devotions-a-devotion-to-love-a-desire-to/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“...continue on the right path. You have potential...Don't give up. Don't let yourself get down and quit studying or fighting for what you want.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabela-pamelli-martins/continue-on-the-right-path-you-have-potential-don-t-give-up-don-t-let/)

[Isabela Pamelli Martins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabela-pamelli-martins/)

> [The Kennedys have always represented a certain royal quality, Camelot, and they represent a great deal of integrity and strength and perseverance; faith in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-slater/the-kennedys-have-always-represented-a-certain-royal-quality-camelot/)

[Christian Slater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-slater/)

> [“Fate and future both are servant to the determined, for they are nothing but creation of human determination.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/fate-and-future-both-are-servant-to-the-determined-for-they-are/)

[Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/)

> [Success flourishes only in perseverance ceaseless, restless perseverance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/success-flourishes-only-in-perseverance-ceaseless-restless/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Importunity is a condition of prayer. We are to press the matter, not with vain repetitions, but with urgent repetitions. We repeat, not to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-mckendree-bounds/importunity-is-a-condition-of-prayer-we-are-to-press-the-matter-not/)

[Edward McKendree Bounds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-mckendree-bounds/)

> [“The real failure is not the one who falls down, it's the one who refuses to get up.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/habeeb-akande/the-real-failure-is-not-the-one-who-falls-down-it-s-the-one-who/)

[Habeeb Akande](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/habeeb-akande/)

> [“I've written about persistence and perseverance and yet for those of us with patchwork lives (projects, earnings, caretaking, home-tending, playing, friending, loving, celebrating, hurting,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shellen-lubin/i-ve-written-about-persistence-and-perseverance-and-yet-for-those-of/)

[Shellen Lubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shellen-lubin/)

> [When everything feels like an uphill struggle, just think of the view from the top.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-everything-feels-like-an-uphill-struggle-just-think-of-the-view/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“Don’t surrender to the pain. Know that it’s only temporary and that perseverance is the key to freedom.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-d-scott/don-t-surrender-to-the-pain-know-that-it-s-only-temporary-and-that/)

[Jason D. Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-d-scott/)

> [It may seem unattainable but if you put actions, your heart and your mind into it, you will prevail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/london-mond/it-may-seem-unattainable-but-if-you-put-actions-your-heart-and-your/)

[London Mond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/london-mond/)

[Browse all 2,212 Perseverance quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perseverance/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“Washington insisted—possibly to rally his own resolve—that they must never lose sight of “the goodness of our cause.” Difficulties were not insurmountable. “Perseverance and spirit have done wonders in all ages.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "David McCullough"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mccullough/washington-insisted-possibly-to-rally-his-own-resolve-that-they-must/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Perseverance"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mccullough/washington-insisted-possibly-to-rally-his-own-resolve-that-they-must/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd9/david-mccullough-1091_perseverance_washington-insisted-possibly-to-rally-hi_2945538.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd9/david-mccullough-1091_perseverance_washington-insisted-possibly-to-rally-hi_2945538.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd9/david-mccullough-1091_perseverance_washington-insisted-possibly-to-rally-hi_2945538.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Washington insisted—possibly to rally his own resolve—that they must never lose sight of “the goodness of…” — David McCullough",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "David McCullough",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mccullough/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“Washington insisted—possibly to rally his own...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mccullough/washington-insisted-possibly-to-rally-his-own-resolve-that-they-must/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mccullough/washington-insisted-possibly-to-rally-his-own-resolve-that-they-must/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
