--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Much was to be done by prudence, much by…" description: "\"“Much was to be done by prudence, much by conciliation, much by firmness.”\" — George Washington" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f9/george-washington-257_peacebuilding_much-was-to-be-done-by-prudence-much-by_991769.jpg" --- # Much was to be done by prudence, much by conciliation… ![“Much was to be done by prudence, much by conciliation, much by firmness.” quote by George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f9/george-washington-257_peacebuilding_much-was-to-be-done-by-prudence-much-by_991769.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f9/george-washington-257_peacebuilding_much-was-to-be-done-by-prudence-much-by_991769.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f9/george-washington-257_peacebuilding_much-was-to-be-done-by-prudence-much-by_991769.jpg) > ““Much was to be done by prudence, much by conciliation, much by firmness.”” [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. He advises balancing prudence, conciliation, and firmness in governance. **In simple terms:** Good leadership mixes caution, compromise, and strength. Key Takeaway Apply balanced judgment in decision‑making. Themes leadership governance wisdom Mood thoughtful strategic Type historical advice When to use this quote - policy formulation - conflict resolution - team management Key Concepts prudence conciliation firmness balance Questions to Reflect On - When should firmness outweigh conciliation? - How does prudence prevent rash actions? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on one trait can cause imbalance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Conciliation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conciliation/) [Conciliation Firmness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conciliation-firmness-2035041/) [Firmness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firmness/) [Peacebuilding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peacebuilding/) [Prudence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prudence/) [Prudence Conciliation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prudence-conciliation-2035040/) ## Related quotes > [The establishment of our new Government seemed to be the last great experiment for promoting human happiness by reasonable compact in civil society. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/the-establishment-of-our-new-government-seemed-to-be-the-last-great/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [The door of conciliation and compromise is finally closed by our adversaries, and it remains only to us to meet the conflict with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-toombs/the-door-of-conciliation-and-compromise-is-finally-closed-by-our/) [Robert Toombs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-toombs/) > [The short lesson that comes out of long experience in political agitation is something like this: all the motive power in all of these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-jay-chapman/the-short-lesson-that-comes-out-of-long-experience-in-political/) [John Jay Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-jay-chapman/) > [ It is by far the safer course to lay \[considerations of the future\] altogether aside; and to confine our attention wholly to the nature… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-hamilton/it-is-by-far-the-safer-course-to-lay-considerations-of-the-future/) [Alexander Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-hamilton/) > [Integrity and firmness is all I can promise; these, be the voyage long or short, never shall forsake me though I be deserted by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/integrity-and-firmness-is-all-i-can-promise-these-be-the-voyage-long/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [I hope I shall possess firmness and virtue enough to maintain what I consider the most enviable of all titles, the character of an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/i-hope-i-shall-possess-firmness-and-virtue-enough-to-maintain-what-i/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [“Conciliation now would only lead to future war. A negotiated peace rather than a peace dictated by the Allies “would jeopardize the moral position…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-e-persico/conciliation-now-would-only-lead-to-future-war-a-negotiated-peace/) [Joseph E. Persico](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-e-persico/) > [By religion, then, I understand a propitiation or conciliation of powers superior to man which are believed to direct and control the course of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-g-frazer/by-religion-then-i-understand-a-propitiation-or-conciliation-of-2/) [James G. Frazer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-g-frazer/) > [“Hard edges make truth and by necessity, truth is unbending. Unlike truth’s absolutism, justice is a qualitative substance; it is not an absolute tenet.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kilroy-j-oldster/hard-edges-make-truth-and-by-necessity-truth-is-unbending-unlike/) [Kilroy J. Oldster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kilroy-j-oldster/) > [The main object of conciliation lies in reaching a solution to a case based upon morals and with a warm heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/the-main-object-of-conciliation-lies-in-reaching-a-solution-to-a-case/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [Conciliation is not capitulation, nor is compromise to be deemed equivalent to imbalanced concession.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jalal-talabani/conciliation-is-not-capitulation-nor-is-compromise-to-be-deemed/) [Jalal Talabani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jalal-talabani/) > [There is a point beyond which conciliation looks like capitulation. I do not believe I passed that point, but others have thought otherwise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/there-is-a-point-beyond-which-conciliation-looks-like-capitulation-i/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [The political process is not tied to any particular doctrine. Genuine political doctrines, rather, are the attempt to find particular and workable solutions to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-crick/the-political-process-is-not-tied-to-any-particular-doctrine-genuine/) [Bernard Crick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-crick/) > [Since the business of politics is the conciliation of differing interests, justice must not merely be done, but to be seen to be done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-crick/since-the-business-of-politics-is-the-conciliation-of-differing/) [Bernard Crick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-crick/) > [Many people today agree that we need to reduce violence in our society. If we are truly serious about this, we must deal with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/many-people-today-agree-that-we-need-to-reduce-violence-in-our/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## 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. The real crises are often concealed in occurrences so trivial in appearance that they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/the-turning-points-of-lives-are-not-the-great-moments-the-real-crises/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [The propitious smiles of Heaven, can never be expected on a nation that disregards the eternal rules of order and right, which Heaven itself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/the-propitious-smiles-of-heaven-can-never-be-expected-on-a-nation/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [Interwoven as is the love of liberty with every ligament of your hearts, no recommendation of mine is necessary to fortify or confirm the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/interwoven-as-is-the-love-of-liberty-with-every-ligament-of-your/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [In vain would that man claim the tribute of patriotism who should labor to subvert these great pillars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/in-vain-would-that-man-claim-the-tribute-of-patriotism-who-should/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [The blessed Religion revealed in the word of God will remain an eternal and awful monument to prove that the best Institution may be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/the-blessed-religion-revealed-in-the-word-of-god-will-remain-an/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [While we are contending for our own liberty, we should be very cautious not to violate the conscience of others, ever considering that God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/while-we-are-contending-for-our-own-liberty-we-should-be-very/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [Among many other weighty objections to the Measure, it has been suggested, that it has a tendency to introduce religious disputes into the Army,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/among-many-other-weighty-objections-to-the-measure-it-has-been/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [Democratical States must always feel before they can see: it is this that makes their Governments slow, but the people will be right at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/democratical-states-must-always-feel-before-they-can-see-it-is-this/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [If, in the opinion of the people, the distribution or modification of the constitutional powers be in any particular wrong, let it be corrected…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/if-in-the-opinion-of-the-people-the-distribution-or-modification-of/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [A man's intentions should be allowed in some respects to plead for his actions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/a-man-s-intentions-should-be-allowed-in-some-respects-to-plead-for/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible. 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. It is, therefore, my first wish, to have my whole conduct distinguished by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/lenity-will-operate-with-greater-force-in-some-instances-than-rigor/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) [Explore all 801 George Washington quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) ## More Conciliation quotes > [The door of conciliation and compromise is finally closed by our adversaries, and it remains only to us to meet the conflict with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-toombs/the-door-of-conciliation-and-compromise-is-finally-closed-by-our/) [Robert Toombs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-toombs/) > [Since the business of politics is the conciliation of differing interests, justice must not merely be done, but to be seen to be done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-crick/since-the-business-of-politics-is-the-conciliation-of-differing/) [Bernard Crick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-crick/) > [Many people today agree that we need to reduce violence in our society. If we are truly serious about this, we must deal with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/many-people-today-agree-that-we-need-to-reduce-violence-in-our/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The short lesson that comes out of long experience in political agitation is something like this: all the motive power in all of these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-jay-chapman/the-short-lesson-that-comes-out-of-long-experience-in-political/) [John Jay Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-jay-chapman/) > [The political process is not tied to any particular doctrine. Genuine political doctrines, rather, are the attempt to find particular and workable solutions to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-crick/the-political-process-is-not-tied-to-any-particular-doctrine-genuine/) [Bernard Crick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-crick/) > [There is a point beyond which conciliation looks like capitulation. I do not believe I passed that point, but others have thought otherwise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/there-is-a-point-beyond-which-conciliation-looks-like-capitulation-i/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [Conciliation is not capitulation, nor is compromise to be deemed equivalent to imbalanced concession.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jalal-talabani/conciliation-is-not-capitulation-nor-is-compromise-to-be-deemed/) [Jalal Talabani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jalal-talabani/) > [The main object of conciliation lies in reaching a solution to a case based upon morals and with a warm heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/the-main-object-of-conciliation-lies-in-reaching-a-solution-to-a-case/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [“Hard edges make truth and by necessity, truth is unbending. Unlike truth’s absolutism, justice is a qualitative substance; it is not an absolute tenet.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kilroy-j-oldster/hard-edges-make-truth-and-by-necessity-truth-is-unbending-unlike/) [Kilroy J. Oldster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kilroy-j-oldster/) > [By religion, then, I understand a propitiation or conciliation of powers superior to man which are believed to direct and control the course of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-g-frazer/by-religion-then-i-understand-a-propitiation-or-conciliation-of-2/) [James G. Frazer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-g-frazer/) > [“Conciliation now would only lead to future war. A negotiated peace rather than a peace dictated by the Allies “would jeopardize the moral position…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-e-persico/conciliation-now-would-only-lead-to-future-war-a-negotiated-peace/) [Joseph E. Persico](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-e-persico/) > [Rather, it is through conciliation and compromise that we are building a fair Iraq, a just state for all its peoples.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jalal-talabani/rather-it-is-through-conciliation-and-compromise-that-we-are-building/) [Jalal Talabani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jalal-talabani/) > [“The Nazis were meticulous in creating a legal framework for their persecution of the Jews. This was gradually built up from 1933 with increasing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-grunwald-spier/the-nazis-were-meticulous-in-creating-a-legal-framework-for-their/) [Agnes Grunwald-Spier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-grunwald-spier/) [Browse all 14 Conciliation quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conciliation/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Much was to be done by prudence, much by conciliation, much by firmness.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "George Washington" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/much-was-to-be-done-by-prudence-much-by-conciliation-much-by-firmness/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Conciliation" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/much-was-to-be-done-by-prudence-much-by-conciliation-much-by-firmness/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f9/george-washington-257_peacebuilding_much-was-to-be-done-by-prudence-much-by_991769.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f9/george-washington-257_peacebuilding_much-was-to-be-done-by-prudence-much-by_991769.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f9/george-washington-257_peacebuilding_much-was-to-be-done-by-prudence-much-by_991769.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Much was to be done by prudence, much by conciliation, much by firmness.” — George Washington", "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": "George Washington", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Much was to be done by...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/much-was-to-be-done-by-prudence-much-by-conciliation-much-by-firmness/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/much-was-to-be-done-by-prudence-much-by-conciliation-much-by-firmness/#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 } } ] } ```