Spurious Quotations

The following is a list of quotations misattributed to George Washington. Some of these spurious quotations can often be attributed to various myths about Washington’s life and legacy through depictions of him in popular fiction or biography. Some quotes demonstrate partially accurate recollections of the first President and Commander-in-Chief’s words and actions. Many of these quotes can be verified by his own writings.

"I cannot tell a lie, Pa"

The history of "I cannot tell a lie, Pa" comes from the Parson Mason Weems biography of the young George Washington. In the fifth edition of The Life and Memorable Actions of George Washington, the cherry tree anecdote was first included. 

Notes:

Mason Locke Weems, The Life of George Washington: With Curious Anecdotes, Equally Honourable to Himself, and Exemplary to His Young Countrymen (Philadelphia: J.B. Lippincott & Company, 1858).

"A free people ought not only be armed and disciplined, but they should have sufficient arms and ammunition to maintain a status of independence from any who might attempt to abuse them, which would include their own government."

This quote is partially accurate as the beginning section is taken from Washington's First Annual Message to Congress on the State of the Union. However, the quote is then manipulated into a differing context and the remaining text is inaccurate.

This is the actual text from Washington's speech, which has been misrepresented by the above spurious quotation: "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 of others for essential, particularly military, supplies."

Notes:

“From George Washington to the United States Senate and House of Representatives, 8 January 1790,” Founders Online, National Archives.

"Government is not reason, it is not eloquence, it is force; like fire, a troublesome servant and a fearful master. Never for a moment should it be left to irresponsible action." 

There is no found explanation for this misquote. There is no recorded individual who said this statement or a similar quote of Washington's that was similar to this statement.

"It is impossible to rightly govern a nation without God and the Bible."

The quote is frequently misattributed to Washington, particularly in regards to his Farewell Address of 1796. The origin of the misquote is, perhaps, a mention of a similar statement in a biography of Washington first published in 1835, which quoted Washington as saying, “It is impossible to govern the universe without the aid of a Supreme Being.” However, this quote has never been proven to have come from Washington.

Notes:

Paulding, James K. Paulding’s Life of Washington in Two Volumes, Vol. II. New York: Harper & Brothers, 1835, 209.

"When government takes away citizens' right to bear arms it becomes citizens' duty to take away government's right to govern."

There is no found explanation for this misquote. There is no recorded individual who said this statement or a similar quote of Washington's that was similar to this statement.

“When a nation mistrusts its citizens with guns it is it sending a clear message. It no longer trusts its citizens because such a government has evil plans.”

The spurious quotation is from an online publication: The American Wisdom Series presents Pamphlet #230, "President George Washington's Thoughts on Firearms” by Joe Spenner. The author provides no citation for the quotations used.

"It will be found an unjust and unwise jealousy to deprive a man of his natural liberty upon the supposition he may abuse it."

There is no found explanation for this misquote. There is no recorded individual who said this statement or a similar quote of Washington's that was similar to this statement.

"Continued deficit spending must ultimately endanger all governments."

There is no found explanation for this misquote. There is no recorded individual who said this statement or a similar quote of Washington's that was similar to this statement.

Notes:

Observer-Reporter (Washington, Pa.), 15 September 1948.

"Doctor, I die hard, but I am not afraid to go. Bring me the Book."

Tobias Lear, Washington’s secretary, was present at his death. He recounts Washington’s final days, and he recorded Washington as saying something similar to this spurious quotation. Lear wrote that Washington said to Dr. James Craik, “Doctor, I die hard; but I am not afraid to go, I believed from my first attack, that I should not survive it; my breath cannot last long.”

Notes:

“Tobias, Lear, II, 14 December 1799,” Founders Online, National Archives.

"Firearms stand next in importance to the Constitution itself. They are the American people’s liberty, teeth and keystone under independence." 

There is no found explanation for this misquote. There is no recorded individual who said this statement or a similar quote of Washington's that was similar to this statement.

"Make the most of the Indian hemp seed and sow it everywhere."

Hemp was grown at Mount Vernon, and Washington became interested in the crop by 1765 to serve as one of the staple crops to replace the cultivation of tobacco at Mount Vernon. However, the text of this quote is inaccurate. The actual quotation with a similar reference reads: "I am very glad to hear that the Gardener has saved so much of the St. foin seed, and that of the India Hemp. Make the most you can of both, by sowing them again in drills. . . Let the ground be well prepared, and the Seed (St. loin) be sown in April. The Hemp may be sown any where. "

Notes:

“From George Washington to William Pearce, 24 February 1794,” Founders Online, National Archives.

"It's wonderful what we can do if we're always doing."

This is a misquote from a prominent Founder, though not George Washington. The actual quotation, which reads "It is wonderful how much may be done, if we are always doing," is from a letter written by Thomas Jefferson to Martha Jefferson on May 5, 1787.

Notes:

“From Thomas Jefferson to Martha Jefferson, 5 May 1787,” Founders Online, National Archives.

"Let none but Americans stand watch this night." or "Put none but Americans on watch this night."

These two quotes are misconstructions of Washington's letter to Colonels Alexander Spotswood, Alexander McClanachan, and Abraham Bowman and Lieutenant Colonel Christian Febiger on 30 April 1777. The letter reflects Washington's increased sense of caution in the wake of a summer 1776 assassination plot involving members of his Life Guard alongside his desire that his papers and effects remain secure from British capture. His stated preferences are in keeping with orders issued in July 1775 shortly after taking command of the Continental Army. Washington feared Loyalists or men without a firm attachment to the American Patriot position could undermine the war effort.

The 1777 letter, written from Washington's headquarters at Morris Town, New Jersey, reads in part:

"I want to form a Company for my Guard—In doing this I wish to be extremely cautious; because it is more than probable that in the Course of the Campaign, my Baggage, Papers, & other Matters of great public Import may be committed to the sole Care of these Men—This being premised, in order to impress you with proper Attention in the Choice, I have to request That you will immediately furnish me with Four Men of your Regimt: And, as it is my further wish that this Compy shd look well & be nearly of a size, I desire that none of the Men may exceed in stature 5 feet 10 inches, nor fall short of 5 feet 9 inches—sober, young, active & well made.

When I recommend Care in yr Choice, I wd be understood to mean Men of good Character in the Regimt that possess the pride of appearing clean & soldierlike—I am satisfied there can be no absolute security for the Fidelity of this Class of People, but yet I think it most likely to be found in those who have Family-Connections in the Country. You will therefore send me none but Natives, & Men of some property, if You have them—I must insist that in making this Choice You give no Intimation of my preferance of Natives, as I do not want to create any invidious Distinction between them & the Foreigners. I am &c"

Washington's use of "natives" in this context refers to American-born men, not Indigenous peoples.

Notes:

“From George Washington to Colonels Alexander Spotswood, Alexander McClanachan, and Abraham Bowman and Lieutenant Colonel Christian Febiger, 30 April 1777,” Founders Online, National Archives.

“General Orders, 7 July 1775,” Founders Online, National Archives.

"The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional to how they perceive how the veterans of earlier wars were treated and appreciated by their nation."

There is no found explanation for this misquote. There is no recorded individual who said this statement or a similar quote of Washington's that was similar to this statement. However, he often expressed his perspective regarding helping war veterans.

Notes:

“From George Washington to John Hancock, 25 September 1776,” Founders Online, National Archives.

“From George Washington to John Banister, 21 April 1778,” Founders Online, National Archives.

"What is most important of this grand experiment, the United States? Not the election of the first president but the election of its second president. The peaceful transition of power is what will separate this country from every other country in the world."

There is no found explanation for this misquote. There is no recorded individual who said this statement or a similar quote of Washington's that was similar to this statement. 

"The great thing about the American Christian is he would rather die on his feet than live on his knees."

There is no found explanation for this misquote. There is no recorded individual who said this statement or a similar quote of Washington's that was similar to this statement. 

"We lost every battle of the war but the two that counted." 

There is no found explanation for this misquote. There is no recorded individual who said this statement or a similar quote of Washington's that was similar to this statement in reference to Yorktown. 

"The marvel of all history is the patience with which men and women submit to burdens unnecessarily laid upon them by their governments." 

There is no evidence that is a George Washington quote or that he had a similar quote. This spurious quotation is actually from U.S. Senator William Edgar Borah, writing in The Reader's Digest in 1929.

Notes:

William Edgar Borah, The Reader’s Digest, Vol. 8, Issue 2 (1929), 776.

"What students would learn in American schools above all is the religion of Jesus Christ."

This misquote is often attributed to Washington's speech to Delaware tribal leaders on May 12, 1779. However, it is both inaccurate in terms of words as well as meaning.

The actual quote reads: "My ears hear with pleasure the other matters you mention. Congress will be glad to hear them too. You do well to wish to learn our arts and ways of life, and above all, the religion of Jesus Christ. These will make you a greater and happier people than you are. Congress will do every thing they can to assist you in this wise intention; and to tie the knot of friendship and union so fast, that nothing shall ever be able to loose it."

The correct quote has its own historical significance and reflected Washington's eventual presidential policies aimed at encouraging cultural and religious assimilation of Native Americans.

Notes:

“Address to the Delaware Nation, 12 May 1779,” Founders Online, National Archives.

"Agriculture is the most healthful, most useful and most noble employment of man."

This quote begins to appear in agricultural publications as early as the 1830s. 

However, a similar quote is expressed by George Washington in a letter written to John Sinclair, 20 July 1794: “I know of no pursuit in which more zeal & important service can be rendered to any Country than by improving its agriculture—its breed of useful animals—and other branches of a husbandman’s cares…”

Notes:

“From George Washington to John Sinclair, 20 July 1794,” Founders Online, National Archives.

“Decision making, like coffee, needs a cooling process.”

 There is no recorded individual who said this statement or a similar quote of Washington's that was similar to this statement. The source of this quote may be inspired by the story of the "senatorial saucer" which is based on a supposed breakfast meeting between Thomas Jefferson and George Washington.  The story received widespread circulation when it appeared in Harper's New Monthly Magazine in January 1884.  It is unknown if a this or a similar conversation ever took place.

Notes: 

Harper's New Monthly Magazine, Vol 68, Issue 404. Harper’s Magazine Foundation, January 1884.

"An army of asses led by a lion is vastly superior to an army of lions led by an ass."

The rough quote "an army of sheep led by a lion is vastly superior to an army of lions led by a wolf" is apocryphally attributed to Alexander the Great. The Washington quote seems to have developed at some point among the faculty or Corps of Cadets at the United States Military Academy at some point.

Notes:

George W. Cullum, Biographical Register of the Officers and Graduates of the U.S. Military Academy, at West Point, N.Y., From Its Establishment, March 16, 1802 to the Army Reorganization of 1866-67, Vol. 1. New York: D. Van Nostrand, 192 Broadway, 1868, ix-x. 

"We had quitters during the Revolution too...we called them 'Kentuckians.'"

This quote was actually stated by George Washington's ghost, in an episode of The Simpsons.

“My mother was the most beautiful woman I ever saw. All I am I owe to my mother. I attribute my success in life to the moral, intellectual and physical education I received from her.”

There is no found explanation for this misquote. There is no recorded individual who said this statement or a similar quote of Washington's that was similar to this statement. 

The editors wish to thank Dr. Zachary Schrag of George Mason University for pointing out the link between Washington's letters and these spurious quotes. Updated by Zoie Horecny, Ph.D., 14 April 2025