--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is a maxim, founded on the universal…" description: "\"It is a maxim, founded on the universal experience of mankind, that no nation is to be trusted farther than it is bound by its interest; and no prudent..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/024/george-washington-257_bounds_it-is-a-maxim-founded-on-the-universal-e_1516971.jpg" --- # It is a maxim, founded on the universal experience of… ![“It is a maxim, founded on the universal experience of mankind, that no nation is to be trusted farther than it is bound by its interest; and no prudent statesman or politician will venture to depart from it.” quote by George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/024/george-washington-257_bounds_it-is-a-maxim-founded-on-the-universal-e_1516971.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/024/george-washington-257_bounds_it-is-a-maxim-founded-on-the-universal-e_1516971.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/024/george-washington-257_bounds_it-is-a-maxim-founded-on-the-universal-e_1516971.jpg) > “It is a maxim, founded on the universal experience of mankind, that no nation is to be trusted farther than it is bound by its interest; and no prudent statesman or politician will venture to depart from it.” [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People trust nations only as far as their interests align; prudent leaders stay within that bound. **In simple terms:** Trust nations only when interests match. Key Takeaway Align policies with clear interests. Themes politics trust interest leadership Mood cautious pragmatic Type political advice When to use this quote - diplomacy - policy making - international negotiations Key Concepts realpolitik ethical governance Questions to Reflect On - When should a leader prioritize principle over interest? - How can trust be built beyond self‑interest? A Different Perspective Interest may conflict with moral values. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bounds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bounds/) [Interest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interest/) [Mankind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mankind/) [Maxims](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/maxims/) [Nation Trusted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nation-trusted-2876075/) [Nations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nations/) [Politician](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politician/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Prudent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prudent/) [Prudent Statesman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prudent-statesman-5516612/) [Statesmen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/statesmen/) [Trusted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trusted/) [Trusted Farther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trusted-farther-5153527/) [Universal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/universal/) [Universal Experience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/universal-experience-455685/) [Venture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/venture/) ## Related quotes > [“it is a maxim founded on the universal experience of mankind that no nation is to be trusted farther than it is bound by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-chernow/it-is-a-maxim-founded-on-the-universal-experience-of-mankind-that-no/) [Ron Chernow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-chernow/) > [Men are very apt to run into extremes, hatred to England may carry come into an excess of Confidence in France... I am heartily…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/men-are-very-apt-to-run-into-extremes-hatred-to-england-may-carry/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [The motto stated a lie. 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Arts provide a universal understanding of a personal experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-jemison/science-provides-an-understanding-of-a-universal-experience-arts/) [Mae Jemison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-jemison/) ## More by George Washington > [It is absolutely necessary... for me to have persons that can think for me, as well as execute orders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/it-is-absolutely-necessary-for-me-to-have-persons-that-can-think-for/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [The whole duty of man is summed up in obedience to God's will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/the-whole-duty-of-man-is-summed-up-in-obedience-to-god-s-will/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [The turning points of lives are not the great moments. 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Do not ever let anyone claim to be a true American…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/it-is-impossible-to-rightly-govern-the-world-without-god-and-the/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [My first wish is to see this plague of mankind banished from the earth, and the sons and daughters of this world employed in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/my-first-wish-is-to-see-this-plague-of-mankind-banished-from-the/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [Lenity will operate with greater force, in some instances, than rigor. 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Each soul is a Compos'tor, of whose faults The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/the-world-s-a-printing-house-our-words-our-thoughts-our-deeds-are/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) > [Christian obligation cannot be made to accord with a law of expediency. The Christian's maxims are, Do right because you are bound to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-landey-patton/christian-obligation-cannot-be-made-to-accord-with-a-law-of/) [Francis Landey Patton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-landey-patton/) > [Such as the chain of causes we call Fate, such is the chain of wishes: one links on to another; the whole man is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/such-as-the-chain-of-causes-we-call-fate-such-is-the-chain-of-wishes/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > ['You spin in the sky, the world spins under you, and you step from land to land, while we . . .' She turned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/you-spin-in-the-sky-the-world-spins-under-you-and-you-step-from-land/) [Samuel R. 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