George WashingtonGeorge Washington, (1732-1799) Founding Father, 1st US President, 'Father of the Country'

George Washington Quote

“A passionate attachment of one nation for another produces a variety of evils. Sympathy for the favorite nation, facilitating the illusion of an imaginary common interest in cases where no real common interest exists, and infusing into one nation the enmities of the other, betrays the former into a participation in the quarrels and wars of the latter without justification. It leads also to concessions to the favorite nation of privileges denied to others which is apt doubly to injure the nation making the concessions; by unnecessarily parting with what ought to have been retained, and by exciting jealousy, ill-will, and a disposition to retaliate, in the parties from whom equal privileges are withheld. And it gives to ambitious, corrupted, or deluded citizens who devote themselves to the favorite nation, facility to betray or sacrifice the interests of their own country, without odium, sometimes even with popularity; gilding, with the appearances of a virtuous sense of obligation, a commendable deference for public opinion, or a laudable zeal for public good, the foolish compliances of ambition, corruption, or infatuation.”

George WashingtonGeorge Washington
~ George Washington

Washington's Farewell Address 1796

Ratings and Comments


Bruce Sammut, Naples

America needs to get back to its roots and our constitution.

Ken Beatty, Spring Hill, Fl

Very true, very real, I love all the founding Fathers.

J Carlton, Calgary

Which is exactly why the US needs to stop meddling in foreign affairs and nation (regime) building. The Founder's knew what it would lead to...the enmity of the planet.

Cal, Lewisville, TX

He warned us well about getting into foreign affairs.

jim k, Austin, Tx

And now our "leaders" are leading us into war with Syria. We will eventually have troops on the ground in Syria and that will be a shame as more American troops will be killed and maimed.

Stew, Fredericksburg

We've been sticking our nose into other peoples' business since 1812, not to the benefit of the majority of citizens. Washington could have written this today with the Middle East in mind. We never learn.

Mann, Kalamazoo

The utter brilliance of Washington's foreign policy observations is mind-bending in its applicability to modern times. Unfortunately, instead of wise public servants we get Washington's D.C. Contrast ANY currently ruling Repugnocrap's international-relations understanding and analysis with George Washington's and you're likely to find near-unanimous opposition to his wisdom. Check his words again. Now think: D.C. - Tel Aviv and take a hard look at what we're doing to Syria, RIGHT NOW. Check our past "successes" in Iraq and Afghanistan for a glimpse of how it's certain to turn out. Our future is firmly in the hands of evil fools intent on war with Russia and China.

E Archer, NYC

Mann is onto something. I know it is very politically incorrect to bring this up, but isn't it interesting that America has been sucked into fighting Israel's enemies as if they were our own? This has been going on since WWI. Is defending the British conquest of Palestine something we will continue to do until WWIII? None of these little Middle Eastern countries are a threat to the US at all, and nothing but continued false flag 'terrorism' has justified our continued bombing of the region for nearly 50 years now at great expense and American lives. They don't hate us for our freedom, they hate us because we won't stop killing them! Is Israel now the 'favorite' nation above our own? Think about it...

J Carlton, Calgary

Archer, excellent observation. Can I point out another correlation? " ... America has been sucked into fighting Israel's enemies as if they were our own? This has been going on since WWI. "... It's been going on since the inception of the Federal Reserve in 1913. There is a connection there if one wants to look...

E Archer, NYC

Carlton, yeah, the Rothschild's are pretty much at the top of the pyramid.

Mike, Norwalk

I'm not so sure we're fighting Israel's enemies as much as using Israel as our front man for excuses. There is a lot of military complex big bucks in keeping the area unsettled. The de jure States united intention on the subject was summed up Observe good faith and justice towards all Nations; cultivate peace and harmony with all. (George Washington) peace, commerce , and honest friendship with all nations, entangling alliances with none (Thomas Jefferson)

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