10 Most Powerful George Washington Quotes (With Leadership Lessons for 2026)

December 23, 2025

Last updated: January 2026

10 Most Powerful George Washington Quotes (With Leadership Lessons for 2026)

George Washington’s words – from letters, speeches, and his Farewell Address – shaped a nation and still guide leaders in 2026. Here are the ten that resonate most today, with direct links to original sources.

1. “It is better to offer no excuse than a bad one.”

Letter to Harriet Washington, 1796
Founders Online – Original Letter
2026 lesson: Accountability in the age of spin.

2. “Associate with men of good quality if you esteem your own reputation; for it is better to be alone than in bad company.”

Rules of Civility, copied as a youth
Founders Online – Rules of Civility
2026 lesson: Network wisely – your circle defines you.

3. “99% of failures come from people who make excuses.”

Attributed (widely accepted)
Mount Vernon – Washington Quotes
2026 lesson: Ownership over blame.

4. “Guard against the impostures of pretended patriotism.”

Farewell Address, 1796
Founders Online – Farewell Address
2026 lesson: Spot false nationalism.

5. “Discipline is the soul of an army.”

Letter to the Continental Congress, 1776
Founders Online – Original Letter
2026 lesson: Structure for success.

6. “To be prepared for war is one of the most effective means of preserving peace.”

First Annual Message to Congress, 1790
Founders Online – Message to Congress
2026 lesson: Strength as deterrence.

7. “Happiness and moral duty are inseparably connected.”

Letter to James Madison, 1785
Founders Online – Original Letter
2026 lesson: Ethics over expediency.

8. “Liberty, when it begins to take root, is a plant of rapid growth.”

Letter to James Madison, 1788
Founders Online – Original Letter
2026 lesson: Freedom spreads fast when defended.

9. “The basis of our political systems is the right of the people to make and to alter their constitutions of government.”

Farewell Address, 1796
Founders Online – Farewell Address
2026 lesson: Democratic power belongs to the people.

10. “Perseverance and spirit have done wonders in all ages.”

Letter to Philip Schuyler, 1777
Founders Online – Original Letter
2026 lesson: Grit wins wars and startups.

Why a George Washington Bust Is the Perfect Daily Leadership Reminder

These words hit harder when the man who lived them is watching you work. Our 25 cm George Washington bust is inspired by Gilbert Stuart’s 1796 Athenaeum portrait, available in Antique Bronze or Stone White.