Founders' Quote Database

George Washington

The Rules of Civility — 1748
Category: Advice
Labor to keep alive in your breast that little spark of celestial fire called conscience.

Thomas Jefferson

letter to Peter Carr — 1785
Category: Virtue
Give up money, give up fame, give up science, give the earth itself and all it contains rather than do an immoral act. And never suppose that in any possible situation, or under any circumstances, it is best for you to do a dishonorable thing, however slightly so it may appear to you... From the practice of the purest virtue, you may be assured you will derive the most sublime comforts in every moment of life, and in the moment of death.

Thomas Jefferson

letter to Peter Carr — 1785
Category: Advice
It is of great importance to set a resolution, not to be shaken, never to tell an untruth. There is no vice so mean, so pitiful, so contemptible; and he who permits himself to tell a lie once, finds it much easier to do it a second and a third time, till at length it becomes habitual; he tells lies without attending to it, and truths without the world's believing him. This falsehood of the tongue leads to that of the heart, and in time depraves all its good disposition.

Thomas Jefferson

letter to Martha Jefferson — 1787
Category: Advice
Determine never to be idle. No person will have occasion to complain of the want of time, who never loses any. It is wonderful how much may be done, if we are always doing. And that you may be always doing good, my dear, is the ardent prayer of yours affectionately.

Thomas Jefferson

A Summary View of the Rights of British America — 1775
Category: Political Leaders
It behooves you, therefore, to think and act for yourself and your people. The great principles of right and wrong are legible to every reader; to pursue them requires not the aid of many counselors. The whole art of government consists in the art of being honest. Only aim to do your duty, and mankind will give you credit where you fail.

Benjamin Franklin

Poor Richard's Almanack — 1747
Category: Advice
Strive to be the greatest man in your country, and you may be disappointed. Strive to be the best and you may succeed: he may well win the race that runs by himself.

George Washington

letter to Benjamin Lincoln — 1788
Category: America
No country upon earth ever had it more in its power to attain these blessings than United America. Wondrously strange, then, and much to be regretted indeed would it be, were we to neglect the means and to depart from the road which Providence has pointed us to so plainly; I cannot believe it will ever come to pass.

George Washington

letter to James Madison — 1785
Category: America
We are either a United people, or we are not. If the former, let us, in all matters of general concern act as a nation, which have national objects to promote, and a national character to support. If we are not, let us no longer act a farce by pretending to it.

Patrick Henry

speech in the First Continental Congress — 1774
Category: America
I am not a Virginian, but an American.

Benjamin Franklin

Autobiography — 1771
Category: Advice
Human Felicity is produced not so much by great Pieces of good Fortune that seldom happen, as by little Advantages that occur every Day.

Thomas Paine

Rights of Man — 1792
Category: Opinion
A little matter will move a party, but it must be something great that moves a nation.

Samuel Adams

to John Hancock at the Battle of Lexington, Massachusetts — 1775
Category: War for Independence
What a glorious morning this is!

Thomas Paine

Common Sense — 1776
Category: America
The cause of America is in a great measure the cause of all mankind.

George Washington

Farewell Address — 1796
Category: Citizenship
Citizens by birth or choice of a common country, that country has a right to concentrate your affections. The name of American, which belongs to you, in your national capacity, must always exalt the just pride of Patriotism, more than any appellation derived from local discriminations.

James Madison

Federalist No. 41.
Category: America
Every man who loves peace, every man who loves his country, every man who loves liberty ought to have it ever before his eyes that he may cherish in his heart a due attachment to the Union of America and be able to set a due value on the means of preserving it.

Thomas Paine

The American Crisis, No. 1 — 1776
Category: Courage
These are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of his country; but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman.

Thomas Paine

The American Crisis, No. 13 — 1783
Category: War for Independence
The times that tried men's souls are over-and the greatest and completest revolution the world ever knew, gloriously and happily accomplished.

John Paul Jones

response to enemy demand to surrender — 1779
Category: Courage
I have not yet begun to fight!
The Declaration of Independence — 1776
Category: Equality
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal. . .

Colonel John Brooks

letter to a friend — 1778
Category: War for Independence
Under all those disadvantages no men ever show more spirit or prudence than ours. In my opinion nothing but virtue has kept our army together through this campaign.

John Adams

letter to William Cushing — 1776
Category: War for Independence
Objects of the most stupendous magnitude, and measure in which the lives and liberties of millions yet unborn are intimately interested, are now before us. We are in the very midst of a revolution the most complete, unexpected and remarkable of any in the history of nations.

Samuel Adams

letter to James Warren — 1776
Category: War for Independence
Our unalterable resolution would be to be free. They have attempted to subdue us by force, but God be praised! in vain. Their arts may be more dangerous then their arms. Let us then renounce all treaty with them upon any score but that of total separation, and under God trust our cause to our swords.

John Page

letter to Thomas Jefferson — 1776
Category: War for Independence
We know the Race is not to the swift nor the Battle to the Strong. Do you not think an Angel rides in the Whirlwind and directs this Storm?

Thomas Paine

Common Sense — 1776
Category: War for Independence
The Sun never shined on a cause of greater worth.

Thomas Paine

Common Sense — 1776
Category: War for Independence
Now is the seedtime of continental union, faith and honor. The least fracture now, will be like a name engraved with the point of a pin on the tender rind of a young oak; the wound would enlarge with the tree, and posterity read in it full grown characters.

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