---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My favorite leader is George Washington…"
description: "\"My favorite leader is George Washington. Because he came from very modest circumstances. He wasn't the son of a plantation owner. He was the son of a f..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/778/les-wexner-14249_being-successful_my-favorite-leader-is-george-washington_1396230.jpg"
---

#  My favorite leader is George Washington. Because he came…

![“My favorite leader is George Washington. Because he came from very modest circumstances. He wasn't the son of a plantation owner. He was the son of a farmer. He had no formal education, very frustrated. He started writing a diary when he was in his teens, and he wrote things like, &quot;When I grow up…” quote by Les Wexner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/778/les-wexner-14249_being-successful_my-favorite-leader-is-george-washington_1396230.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/778/les-wexner-14249_being-successful_my-favorite-leader-is-george-washington_1396230.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/778/les-wexner-14249_being-successful_my-favorite-leader-is-george-washington_1396230.jpg)

> “My favorite leader is George Washington. Because he came from very modest circumstances. He wasn't the son of a plantation owner. He was the son of a farmer. He had no formal education, very frustrated. He started writing a diary when he was in his teens, and he wrote things like, "When I grow up, I want to be respected. When I grow up, I want to be successful. When I grow up, I want to know things." What I find fascinating about Washington is he wanted to make something of himself.”

[Les Wexner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/les-wexner/)

## About This Quote

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

The narrator admires Washington for rising from humble beginnings, emphasizing self‑determination and ambition despite limited formal education.

**In simple terms:** Hard work and ambition can overcome modest origins.

Key Takeaway

Cultivate ambition and self‑education.

Themes

ambition humility self‑improvement

Mood

inspirational reflective

Type

historical motivational

When to use this quote

- career planning
- education pursuits
- goal setting
- self‑motivation

Key Concepts

history personal development

Questions to Reflect On

- What steps can you take to self‑educate?
- How does humble origin influence your drive?

A Different Perspective

Success also depends on external opportunities and support.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Being successful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-successful/) [Circumstances](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/circumstances/) [Farmers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/farmers/) [Fascinating Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fascinating-washington-4880631/) [Favorite Leader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/favorite-leader-4880629/) [Frustrated](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/frustrated/) [George w](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/george-w/) [George washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/george-washington/) [Growing up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/growing-up/) [Leader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leader/) [Leader George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leader-george-4880630/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [Modest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/modest/) [My favorite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/my-favorite/) [Son](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/son/) [Successful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/successful/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/)

## Related quotes

> [My mother was my Girl Scout leader, and George's mother was his Cub Scout leader. In fact, that's when some say her hair turned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-bush/my-mother-was-my-girl-scout-leader-and-george-s-mother-was-his-cub/)

[Laura Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-bush/)

> [“We must learn to work with people as they are … since we can’t have them as we wish.” George Washington”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tres-roeder/we-must-learn-to-work-with-people-as-they-are-since-we-can-t-have/)

[Tres Roeder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tres-roeder/)

> [“President George Washington’s namesake capital, once a marketplace for slave auctions, is now synonymous with democracy and freedom; so is the iconic Jefferson, who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-mendis/president-george-washington-s-namesake-capital-once-a-marketplace-for/)

[Patrick Mendis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-mendis/)

> [“Nothing can illustrate these observations more forcibly, than a recollection of the happy conjuncture of times and circumstances, under which our Republic assumed its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/nothing-can-illustrate-these-observations-more-forcibly-than-a/)

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

> [“Bet you did not know that in Mexico they call a Palomino an Isabella. Or that George Washington's warhorse was an Arab named Magnolia.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-glass/bet-you-did-not-know-that-in-mexico-they-call-a-palomino-an-isabella/)

[Julia Glass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-glass/)

> [President George Washington used to wear a wig and make-up. I mean, c'mon, if he could do it, I can do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikki-sixx/president-george-washington-used-to-wear-a-wig-and-make-up-i-mean-c/)

[Nikki Sixx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikki-sixx/)

> [“To be prepared for war is one of the most effective means of preserving peace." George Washington”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-arseneault/to-be-prepared-for-war-is-one-of-the-most-effective-means-of/)

[Stephen Arseneault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-arseneault/)

> [I grew up at 16 years old driving trucks across the George Washington Bridge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-sherwood/i-grew-up-at-16-years-old-driving-trucks-across-the-george-washington/)

[Don Sherwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-sherwood/)

> [“After negotiations failed, President George Washington reluctantly called out the state militias to quash the uprising. Washington inspected and briefly rode with the troops…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lew-bryson/after-negotiations-failed-president-george-washington-reluctantly/)

[Lew Bryson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lew-bryson/)

> [George washington said "We would have a black president when pigs fly!"... well, swine flu.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/george-washington-said-we-would-have-a-black-president-when-pigs-fly/)

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

> [One of George Washington's main concerns was to make sure that his soldiers had adequate supplies of meat: A part of the army has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/one-of-george-washington-s-main-concerns-was-to-make-sure-that-his/)

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

> [George Washington’s brother, Lawrence, was the Uncle of Our Country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/george-washington-s-brother-lawrence-was-the-uncle-of-our-country/)

[George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/)

> [The Founders didn't mention political parties when they wrote the Constitution, and George Washington in essence warned us against them in his Farewell Address.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/the-founders-didn-t-mention-political-parties-when-they-wrote-the/)

[Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/)

> [I can bear to hear of imputed or real errors. The man who wishes to stand well in the opinion of others must do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-can-bear-to-hear-of-imputed-or-real-errors-the-man-who-wishes-to/)

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

> [“Distinctively gentle he was, and trustworthy, and of special courtesy. His great physical strength was never used in combat, men remembered, except when needed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-byrd-turner/distinctively-gentle-he-was-and-trustworthy-and-of-special-courtesy/)

[Nancy Byrd Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-byrd-turner/)

## More by Les Wexner

> [If you keep your nose to the grindstone, you don’t have any nose,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/les-wexner/if-you-keep-your-nose-to-the-grindstone-you-don-t-have-any-nose/)

[Les Wexner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/les-wexner/)

> [I am really proud of the development of the people on my team as they grow in purpose; they like what they see in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/les-wexner/i-am-really-proud-of-the-development-of-the-people-on-my-team-as-they/)

[Les Wexner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/les-wexner/)

> [I think different societies, cultures, individuals, teams of people, make the world a better place. The founding fathers, they made New England, they made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/les-wexner/i-think-different-societies-cultures-individuals-teams-of-people-make/)

[Les Wexner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/les-wexner/)

> [If you start painting yourself into a corner, life starts shutting down. There is always hopefully a next.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/les-wexner/if-you-start-painting-yourself-into-a-corner-life-starts-shutting/)

[Les Wexner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/les-wexner/)

> [I'm unhappy with the President Trump. I don't like his behavior, and I'm a Republican, and I don't like his policies because they're almost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/les-wexner/i-m-unhappy-with-the-president-trump-i-don-t-like-his-behavior-and-i/)

[Les Wexner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/les-wexner/)

> [I think success is about purpose. People ask about success at different points in your life. As I look back, I think people that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/les-wexner/i-think-success-is-about-purpose-people-ask-about-success-at/)

[Les Wexner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/les-wexner/)

> [Sometimes I wish I lived more in the day, but I'm happier thinking about tomorrow or the day after. The way I see it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/les-wexner/sometimes-i-wish-i-lived-more-in-the-day-but-i-m-happier-thinking/)

[Les Wexner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/les-wexner/)

> [There is always hopefully a next.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/les-wexner/there-is-always-hopefully-a-next/)

[Les Wexner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/les-wexner/)

> [When you coach and teach leadership, most people think about them. It's like you're the leader and how do you influence them. Clearly, leaders…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/les-wexner/when-you-coach-and-teach-leadership-most-people-think-about-them-it-s/)

[Les Wexner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/les-wexner/)

> [Ask yourself: What forms the decisions you make? What is it that gnaws at you? What are your crucible moments?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/les-wexner/ask-yourself-what-forms-the-decisions-you-make-what-is-it-that-gnaws/)

[Les Wexner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/les-wexner/)

> [I was single for most of my life. The best thing that happened to me is my wife. I've got four kids. All of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/les-wexner/i-was-single-for-most-of-my-life-the-best-thing-that-happened-to-me/)

[Les Wexner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/les-wexner/)

> [My faith is very important me. I think the notion that there's this greater force outside of ourselves that's created the universe, created challenges,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/les-wexner/my-faith-is-very-important-me-i-think-the-notion-that-there-s-this/)

[Les Wexner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/les-wexner/)

> [My friends don't understand, whether it's belonging to a country club or playing golf, or whatever a vacation is, that should make you happy.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/les-wexner/my-friends-don-t-understand-whether-it-s-belonging-to-a-country-club/)

[Les Wexner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/les-wexner/)

> [If your life lease, your existence was canceled tomorrow, what would you wish you had done? What are the things you would like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/les-wexner/if-your-life-lease-your-existence-was-canceled-tomorrow-what-would/)

[Les Wexner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/les-wexner/)

> [You have to keep being curious. The notion that the present is different than the past, and the future will be different than the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/les-wexner/you-have-to-keep-being-curious-the-notion-that-the-present-is/)

[Les Wexner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/les-wexner/)

[Explore all 47 Les Wexner quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/les-wexner/)

## More Being successful quotes

> [I always say there are two things to be successful. The first is decide exactly what you want - set your goals - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/i-always-say-there-are-two-things-to-be-successful-the-first-is/)

[Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/)

> [The vast majority of organizations today have more than enough intelligence, experience and knowledge to be successful. What they lack is organizational health.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-lencioni/the-vast-majority-of-organizations-today-have-more-than-enough/)

[Patrick Lencioni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-lencioni/)

> [To be successful, one must take chances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willie-stargell/to-be-successful-one-must-take-chances/)

[Willie Stargell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willie-stargell/)

> [Business is always a struggle. There are always obstacles and competitors. There is never an open road, except the wide road that leads to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-kirubi/business-is-always-a-struggle-there-are-always-obstacles-and/)

[Chris Kirubi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-kirubi/)

> [You cannot be successful without passion. If you don't love what you're doing, if you don't have passion for it - forget it. Do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/you-cannot-be-successful-without-passion-if-you-don-t-love-what-you/)

[Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/)

> [You can't not be a little different from others and be successful for three decades.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-sheen/you-can-t-not-be-a-little-different-from-others-and-be-successful-for/)

[Charlie Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-sheen/)

> [Everyone has a breaking point, turning point, stress point, the game is permeated with it. The fans don't see it because we make it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-winfield/everyone-has-a-breaking-point-turning-point-stress-point-the-game-is/)

[Dave Winfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-winfield/)

> [If you increase the number of rockets you build and you buy, then it's the scale of the economy, the price is going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-chiao/if-you-increase-the-number-of-rockets-you-build-and-you-buy-then-it-s/)

[Leroy Chiao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-chiao/)

> [Hockey is a unique sport in the sense that you need each and every guy helping each other and pulling in the same direction…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-gretzky/hockey-is-a-unique-sport-in-the-sense-that-you-need-each-and-every/)

[Wayne Gretzky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-gretzky/)

> [There has always been a display of wealth and always will be, until the depression comes, which it always does. And let me tell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/there-has-always-been-a-display-of-wealth-and-always-will-be-until/)

[Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/)

> [I think there is a big and significant difference between being a leader and being a manager-leaders lead from the heart. You have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-jung/i-think-there-is-a-big-and-significant-difference-between-being-a/)

[Andrea Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-jung/)

> [There's nobody that wants the president to be successful more than I.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-r-clapper/there-s-nobody-that-wants-the-president-to-be-successful-more-than-i/)

[James R. Clapper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-r-clapper/)

> [Don't worry about your individual numbers. Worry about the team. If the team is successful, each of you will be successful, too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/branch-rickey/don-t-worry-about-your-individual-numbers-worry-about-the-team-if-the/)

[Branch Rickey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/branch-rickey/)

> [We have to be successful at the cutting-edge industries of the future like Twitter. But we also have always been a country that makes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/we-have-to-be-successful-at-the-cutting-edge-industries-of-the-future/)

[Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/)

> [Also, it's not the mathematical skill that's critical to winning, it's the discipline of being able to stick to the system. There are very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blair-hull/also-it-s-not-the-mathematical-skill-that-s-critical-to-winning-it-s/)

[Blair Hull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blair-hull/)

[Browse all 1,002 Being successful quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-successful/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "My favorite leader is George Washington. Because he came from very modest circumstances. He wasn't the son of a plantation owner. He was the son of a farmer. He had no formal education, very frustrated. He started writing a diary when he was in his teens, and he wrote things like, \"When I grow up, I want to be respected. When I grow up, I want to be successful. When I grow up, I want to know things.\" What I find fascinating about Washington is he wanted to make something of himself.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Les Wexner"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/les-wexner/my-favorite-leader-is-george-washington-because-he-came-from-very/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Being successful"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/les-wexner/my-favorite-leader-is-george-washington-because-he-came-from-very/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/778/les-wexner-14249_being-successful_my-favorite-leader-is-george-washington_1396230.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/778/les-wexner-14249_being-successful_my-favorite-leader-is-george-washington_1396230.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/778/les-wexner-14249_being-successful_my-favorite-leader-is-george-washington_1396230.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“My favorite leader is George Washington. Because he came from very modest circumstances. He wasn't the son…” — Les Wexner",
                "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": "Les Wexner",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/les-wexner/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "My favorite leader is George Washington....",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/les-wexner/my-favorite-leader-is-george-washington-because-he-came-from-very/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/les-wexner/my-favorite-leader-is-george-washington-because-he-came-from-very/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
