President's Day is coming up. What value does it have in today's society....none if we look at it only as a day off. This year, I thought it good to reflect on President's Day and it's value if we use it to learn from history. Who better to start with than George Washington our first President? Quite a contrast to our current President....about half way down some sobering words for the nation that we appear to be now as one incapable of ruling ourselves as our current President may be our last. There is something for everyone here whether it be 2A, foreign relations, politics, religion, finance or war.
Pick one and comment on it.
By the all-powerful dispensations of Providence, I have been protected beyond all human probability and expectation; for I had four bullets through my coat, and two horses shot under me, yet escaped unhurt, altho' death was leveling my companions on every side.
GEORGE WASHINGTON, letter to John A. Washington, Jul. 18, 1755
The ways of Providence being inscrutable, and the justice of it not to be scanned by the shallow eye of humanity, nor to be counteracted by the utmost efforts of human power or wisdom, resignation, and as far as the strength of our reason and religion can carry us, a cheerful acquiescence to the Divine Will, is what we are to aim.
GEORGE WASHINGTON, letter to Colonel Bassett, Apr. 25, 1773
While we are contending for our own liberty, we should be very cautious not to violate the rights of conscience in others, ever considering that God alone is the judge of the hearts of men, and to him only in this case they are answerable.
GEORGE WASHINGTON, letter to Benedict Arnold, Sep. 14, 1775
It is with pleasure I receive reproof, when reproof is due, because no person can be readier to accuse me, than I am to acknowledge an error, when I am guilty of one; nor more desirous of atoning for a crime, when I am sensible of having committed it.
GEORGE WASHINGTON, letter to Governor Dinwiddie, Aug. 27, 1757
It is our true policy to steer clear of permanent alliance with any portion of the foreign world.
GEORGE WASHINGTON, Farewell Address to the People of the United States
Few men have virtue enough to withstand the highest bidder.
GEORGE WASHINGTON, letter, Aug. 17, 1779
As a very important source of strength and security, cherish public credit. One method of preserving it is, to use it as sparingly as possible; avoiding occasions of expense by cultivating peace, but remembering also that timely disbursements to prepare for danger frequently prevent much greater disbursements to repel it; avoiding likewise the accumulation of debt, not only by shunning occasions of expense, but by vigorous exertions in time of peace to discharge the debts, which unavoidable wars may have occasioned, not ungenerously throwing upon posterity the burthen, which we ourselves ought to bear.
GEORGE WASHINGTON, Farewell Address, Sep. 17, 1796
However [political parties] may now and then answer popular ends, they are likely in the course of time and things, to become potent engines, by which cunning, ambitious, and unprincipled men will be enabled to subvert the power of the people and to usurp for themselves the reins of government, destroying afterwards the very engines which have lifted them to unjust dominion.
GEORGE WASHINGTON, Farewell Address, Sep. 17, 1796
To contract new debts is not the way to pay old ones.
GEORGE WASHINGTON, letter to James Welch, Apr. 7, 1799
No People can be bound to acknowledge and adore the invisible hand, which conducts the Affairs of men more than the People of the United States. Every step, by which they have advanced to the character of an independent nation, seems to have been distinguished by some token of providential agency.
GEORGE WASHINGTON, first inaugural address, Apr. 30, 1789
I now make it my earnest prayer, that God would have you, and the State over which you preside, in his holy protection, that he would incline the hearts of the Citizens to cultivate a spirit of subordination and obedience to Government, to entertain a brotherly affection and love for one another, for their fellow Citizens of the United States at large, and particularly for their brethren who have served in the Field, and finally, that he would most graciously be pleased to dispose us all, to do Justice, to love mercy, and to demean ourselves with that Charity, humility and pacific temper of mind, which were the Characteristicks of the Divine Author of our blessed Religion, and without an humble imitation of whose example in these things, we can never hope to be a happy Nation.
GEORGE WASHINGTON, circular to the states, Jun. 8, 1783
It is important ... that the habits of thinking in a free Country should inspire caution in those entrusted with its administration, to confine themselves within their respective Constitutional Spheres; avoiding in the exercise of the Powers of one department to encroach upon another.
GEORGE WASHINGTON, farewell address, Sep. 19, 1796
For happily the government of the United States, which gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance, requires only that they who live under its protection should demean themselves as good citizens, in giving it on all occasions their effectual support…. May the children of the Stock of Abraham, who dwell in this land, continue to merit and enjoy the good will of the other inhabitants, while every one shall sit in safety under his own vine and fig-tree, and there shall be none to make him afraid.
GEORGE WASHINGTON, letter to the Hebrew congregation of Newport, Rhode Island, Aug. 17, 1790
Mankind, when left to themselves, are unfit for their own government.
GEORGE WASHINGTON, letter, Oct. 31, 1786
I hate deception, even where the imagination only is concerned.
GEORGE WASHINGTON, letter to Dr. John Cochran, Aug. 16, 1779
Let your heart feel for the afflictions and distresses of every one, and let your hand give in proportion to your purse; remembering always the estimation of the widow's mite, but, that it is not every one who asketh that deserveth charity; all, however, are worthy of the inquiry, or the deserving may suffer.
GEORGE WASHINGTON, letter to Bushrod Washington, Jan. 15, 1783
Avoid gaming. This is a vice which is productive of every possible evil; equally injurious to the morals and health of its votaries. It is the child of avarice, the brother of iniquity, and father of mischief. It has been the ruin of many worthy families, the loss of many a man's honor, and the cause of Suicide. To all those who enter the lists, it is equally fascinating. The successful gamester pushes his good fortune, till it is overtaken by a reverse. The losing gamester, in hopes of retrieving past misfortunes, goes on from bad to worse, till grown desperate he pushes at everything and loses his all. In a word, few gain by this abominable practice, (the profit if any being diffused) while thousands are injured.
GEORGE WASHINGTON, letter to Bushrod Washington, Jan. 15, 1783
The power under the constitution will always be in the people. It is intrusted for certain defined purposes, and for a certain limited period, to representatives of their own choosing; and, whenever it is executed contrary to their interest, or not agreeable to their wishes, their servants can and undoubtedly will be recalled.
GEORGE WASHINGTON, letter to Bushrod Washington, Nov. 10, 1787
When a people shall have become incapable of governing themselves, and fit for a master, it is of little consequence from what quarter he comes.
GEORGE WASHINGTON, letter to the Marquis de Lafayette, Apr. 28, 1788
Refrain from drink which is the source of all evil--and the ruin of half the workmen in this Country.
GEORGE WASHINGTON, letter to Thomas Green, Mar. 31, 1789
The propitious smiles of Heaven can never be expected on a nation that disregards the eternal rules of order and right, which Heaven itself has ordained.
GEORGE WASHINGTON, First Inaugural Address, Apr. 30, 1789
A free people ought not only to be armed, but disciplined; to which end a uniform and well-digested plan is requisite; and their safety and interest require that they should promote such manufactories as tend to render them independent on others for essential, particularly for military, supplies.
GEORGE WASHINGTON, speech to Congress, Jan. 8, 1790
When one side only of a story is heard and often repeated, the human mind becomes impressed with it insensibly.
GEORGE WASHINGTON, letter to Edmund Pendleton, Jan. 22, 1795
It has always been a source of serious reflection and sincere regret with me that the youth of the United States should be sent to foreign countries for the purpose of education. Although there are doubtless many, under these circumstances, who escape the danger of contracting principles unfavorable to republican government, yet we ought to deprecate the hazard attending ardent and susceptible minds, from being too strongly and too early prepossessed in favor of other political systems before they are capable of appreciating their own.
GEORGE WASHINGTON, letter to the Commissioners of the Federal District, Jan. 28, 1795
I am sure the mass of citizens in these United States mean well, and I firmly believe they will always act well whenever they can obtain a right understanding of matters; but in some parts of the Union, where the sentiments of their delegates and leaders are adverse to the government, and great pains are taken to inculcate a belief that their rights are assailed and their liberties endangered, it is not easy to accomplish this; especially, as is the case invariably, when the inventors and abettors of pernicious measures use infinite more industry in disseminating the poison than the well disposed part of the community to furnish the antidote.
GEORGE WASHINGTON, letter to John Jay, May 8, 1796
There is an opinion that parties in free countries are useful checks upon the Administration of the Government, and serve to keep alive the Spirit of Liberty. This within certain limits is probably true--and in Governments of a Monarchical cast, Patriotism may look with indulgence, if not with favour, upon the spirit of party. But in those of the popular character, in Governments purely elective, it is a spirit not to be encouraged. From their natural tendency, it is certain there will always be enough of that spirit for every salutary purpose--and there being constant danger of excess, the effort ought to be, by force of public opinion, to mitigate and assuage it. A fire not to be quenched; it demands a uniform vigilence to prevent its bursting into a flame, lest instead of warming, it should consume.
GEORGE WASHINGTON, Farewell Address to the people of the United States, Sep. 17, 1796
Observe good faith and justice towards all Nations.
GEORGE WASHINGTON, Farewell Address to the people of the United States, Sep. 17, 1796
The Nation which indulges towards another an habitual hatred or an habitual fondness is in some degree a slave. It is a slave to its animosity or to its affection, either of which is sufficient to lead it astray from its duty and its interest.
GEORGE WASHINGTON, Farewell Address to the people of the United States, Sep. 17, 1796
It is at all times more easy to make enemies than friends.
GEORGE WASHINGTON, letter to George Washington Parke Custis, Nov. 28, 1796
To speak evil of any one, unless there is unequivocal proofs of their deserving it, is an injury for which there is no adequate reparation.
GEORGE WASHINGTON, letter to George Washington Parke Custis, Nov. 28, 1796
Rise early, that by habit it may become familiar, agreeable, healthy, and profitable. It may, for a while, be irksome to do this, but that will wear off; and the practice will produce a rich harvest forever thereafter; whether in public or private walks of life.
GEORGE WASHINGTON, letter to George Washington Parke Custis, Jan. 7, 1798
It is much easier at all times to prevent an evil than to rectify mistakes.
GEORGE WASHINGTON, letter to James McHenry, Aug. 10, 1798
It is infinitely better to have a few good men than many indifferent ones.
GEORGE WASHINGTON, letter to James McHenry, Aug. 10, 1798
The views of men can only be known, or guessed at, by their words or actions.
GEORGE WASHINGTON, letter to Patrick Henry, Jan. 15, 1799
An army of asses led by a lion is vastly superior to an army of lions led by an ass.
GEORGE WASHINGTON, attributed, The Long Gray Line
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