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Quotes of the Day for 22 February 2005 - George Washington

George Washington was born in Virginia's Westmoreland County on this day in 1732. When his father died in 1743, George moved to Mount Vernon to live with his half brother, eventually inheriting that estate. He learned surveying, worked in the frontier areas of Virginia until the French and Indian War. His abilities in leading troops earned the rank of lieutenant colonel at the age of 22. He served in the Virginia House of Burgesses, then as representative to both the First and Second Constitutional Conventions, the latter of which elected him unanimously as commander of the Continental forces in 1775. He went back to Mount Vernon after the war, but was disappointed by the results of the early government and led the Virginia delegation to the Constitutional Convention at Philadelphia. When the new constitution was ratified, Washington was unanimously elected as the first president. By all accounts, Washington was brilliant and capable, of good character, and would have much rather spent many more years as a Virginia gentleman had the British Colonial government been more reasonable.

A slender acquaintance with the world must convince every man, that actions, not words, are the true criterion of the attachment of friends; and that the most liberal professions of goodwill are very far from being the surest marks of it.

Labor to keep alive in your breast that little spark of celestial fire called conscience.

Let your heart feel for the afflictions and distress of everyone, and let your hand give in proportion to your purse.

Overgrown military establishments are under any form of government inauspicious to liberty, and are to be regarded as particularly hostile to republican liberty.

The liberality of sentiment toward each other, which marks every political and religious denomination of men in this country, stands unparalleled in the history of nations.

Occupants of public offices love power and are prone to abuse it.
     - All from George Washington, 1732 - 1799

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