Ambition Quote by George Washington
“No compact among men . . . can be pronounced everlasting and inviolable, and if I may so express myself, that no Wall of words, that no mound of parchment can be so formed as to stand against the sweeping torrent of boundless ambition on the one side, aided by the sapping current of corrupted morals on the other.”
About This Quote
Source Letter: Letter to a friend, 1790, Founding Era
Ambition and corrupt morals clash, making any lasting agreement impossible.
In simple terms: Ambition and corruption prevent lasting promises.
Key Takeaway
Guard against unchecked ambition and moral decay.
Themes
politics
ethics
human nature
Mood
cautionary
philosophical
Type
wisdom
warning
When to use this quote
- government formation
- corporate deals
- personal contracts
Key Concepts
power dynamics
corruption
idealism
Questions to Reflect On
- Can any agreement survive unchecked ambition?
- What safeguards protect moral integrity?
A Different Perspective
Idealistic promises often fail under real‑world pressures.
![“[In the case of] dangerous exercise of other powers, not granted by the said compact, the states, who are parties thereto, have the right, and are duty bound, to interpose for arresting the progress of the evil.” quote by James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/a51/james-madison-373_arresting_in-the-case-of-dangerous-exercise-of-oth_63920.jpg)
