They’re everywhere now.

On the pages of social media, displayed on bumper stickers, and in the speeches of political candidates, partisan factions claim a Founding Father by virtue of one of their Founding Sound Bites. But how many of those words were actually said, as written, by the person claimed? Very few, if any, one suspects – and usually you would be right to be very suspicious.

But here are forty-five real quotes by the unquestioned man-in-marble of his time – George Washington. This collection of quotes, mostly culled from the National Archives, literally tell the story of the Revolutionary War through the eyes and words of the unshakable commander in chief. Washington was the “indispensable” man who stayed true to “the Cause,” and to a republican form of government with civilian leadership.

Now, almost two hundred and forty-five years later, we still owe a debt of gratitude to that visionary who fought for American independence through eight long years of war. Here are some of his words during that long conflict. (The original punctuation, contemporary spelling, and abbreviations are kept in their true, unique form).

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1775

1. I this day declare with the utmost sincerity, I do not think my self equal to the Command I ⟨am⟩ honoured with.[1]

2. As to pay, Sir, I beg leave to Assure the Congress that as no pecuniary consideration could have tempted me to have accepted this Arduous emploiment at the expence of my domestk ease & happi⟨ness⟩,I do not wish to make any proffit from it.[2]

3. I am now Imbarkd on a tempestuous Ocean from whence, perhaps, no friendly harbour is to be found.[3]

4. Between you and me I think we are in an exceeding dangerous Situation.[4]

5. I found a mixed multitude of People here, under very little discipline, order, or Government.[5]

6. For the future I shall regulate my Conduct towards those Gentlemen who are or may be in our Possession, exactly by the Rule which you shall observe, towards those of ours, who may be in your Custody. If Severity, & Hardship mark the Line of your Conduct, (painful as it may be to me) your Prisoners will feel its Effects.[6]

7. I cannot conceive any more honourable, than that which flows from the uncorrupted Choice of a brave and free Poeple—The purest Source & original Fountain of all Power… I shall now, Sir, close my Correspondence with you, perhaps forever.[7]

8. I can hardly think that Lord Dunmore can act so low, & unmanly a part, as to think of siezing Mrs Washington by way of revenge upon me.[8]

9. I daresay the Men would fight very well (if properly Officered) although they are an exceeding dirty & nasty people.[9]

10. Perseverance and Spirit have done Wonders in all ages.[10]

11. The General does not mean to discourage the practice of bathing, whilst the weather is warm enough to continue it; but he expressly forbids, any persons doing it, at or near the Bridge in Cambridge, where it has been observed and complained of, that many Men, lost to all sense of decency and common modesty, are running about naked upon the Bridge, whilst Passengers, and even Ladies of the first fashion in the neighbourhood, are passing over it, as if they meant to glory in their shame.[11] 

12. Let the Hospitality of the House, with respect to the Poor, be kept up; Let no one go hungry away—if any of these kind of People should be in want of Corn supply their necessities.[12]

1776

13. The reflection upon my Situation, & that of this Army, produces many an uneasy hour when all around me are wrapped in Sleep. Few People know the Predicament we are In … If I shall be able to rise superior to these, and many other difficulties, which might be innumerated, I shall most religiously believe that the finger of Providence is in it.[13]

14. Three things prompt Men to a regular discharge of their Duty in time of Action, Natural bravery—hope of reward—and fear of punishment.[14]

15. If you should ever come to Cambridge, or near Head Quarters, I shall be happy to see a person so favourd by the Muses, and to whom nature has been so liberal and beneficent in her dispensations.[15]

16. One or two [Loyalists] have done, what a great many ought to have done long ago—committed Suicide—By all Accts there never existed a more miserable set of Beings than these wretched Creatures now are … It is a great stake we are playing for, and sure we are of winning if the Cards are well managed.[16]

17. To form a new Government, requires infinite care, & unbounded attention; for if the foundation is badly laid the superstructure must be bad.[17]

18. Mrs Washington is now under Innoculation in this City; & will, I expect, have the Small pox favourably—this is the 13th day, and she has very few Pustules.[18]

19. Let us therefore rely upon the goodness of the Cause, and the aid of the supreme Being, in whose hands Victory is, to animate and encourage us to great and noble Actions—The Eyes of all our Countrymen are now upon us.[19]

20. Had I been left to the dictates of my own judgment, New York should have been laid in Ashes before I quitted it … Providence—or some good honest Fellow, has done more for us than we were disposed to do for ourselves.[20]

21. Our only dependance now, is upon the Speedy Inlistment of a New Army; if this fails us, I think the game will be pretty well up.[21]

1777

22. I shall constantly bear in Mind, that as the Sword was the last Resort for the preservation of our Liberties, so it ought to be the first thing laid aside, when those Liberties are firmly established.[22]

23. That the Army may be kept as clean as possible of this terrible disorder [small pox], I have recommended it to every State, which is to send Troops to the Army in this department, immediately to begin upon the innoculation of their Recruits, and to continue till they have gone thro’ the whole … We intend for the present to keep the Matter as much a Secret as possible, and I would Advise you to do the same.[23]

24. The Commander in chief, in the most pointed and explicit terms, forbids ALL officers and soldiers, playing at cards, dice—or at any games, except those of EXERCISE.[24]

25. General Washington’s compliments to General Howe. He does himself the pleasure to return him a dog, which accidentally fell into his hands, and by the inscription on the Collar appears to belong to General Howe.[25]

26. General Conways’ merit then, as an officer, and his importance in this Army, exists more in his own imagination than in reality.[26]

27. I am now convinced beyond a doubt, that unless some great and capital change suddenly takes place in that line this Army must inevitably be reduced to one or other of these three things. Starve—dissolve—or disperse.[27]

1778

28. So soon then as the public gets dissatisfied with my services, or a person is found better qualified to answer her expectation, I shall quit the helm with as much satisfaction, and retire to a private station with as much content, as ever the wearied pilgrim felt upon his safe arrival in the Holy-land, or haven of hope.[28]

29. The recent Instance of uncomplaining Patience during the scarcity of provisions in Camp is a fresh proof that they possess in an eminent degree the spirit of soldiers and the magninimity of Patriots.[29]

30. General Washington having been informed, lately, of the honor done him by Miss Kitty Livingston in wishing for a lock of his Hair, takes the liberty of inclosing one, accompanied by his most respectful compliments.[30]

31. Nothing short of Independence, it appears to me, can possibly do … To see men without Cloat⟨hes⟩ to cover their nakedness—without Blankets to lay on—without Shoes, by which their Marches might be traced by the Blood from their feet—and almost as often without Provisions as with; Marching through frost & Snow, and at Christmas taking up their Winter Quarters within a days March of the enemy, without a House or Hutt to cover them till they could be built & submitting to it without a murmur, is a Mark of patience & obedience which in my opinion can scarce be parallel’d.[31]

1779

32. Brothers, I am a Warrior.[32]

33. Few men have virtue to withstand the highest bidder.[33]

34. Our Magazines are absolutely empty every where and our Commissaries intirely destitute of money or credit to replenish them. We have never experienced a like extremity at any period of the War.[34]

1780

35. In modern wars the longest purse must chiefly determine the event—I fear that of my enemy will be found to be so—though the Government is deeply in debt & of course poor, the nation is rich and their riches afford a fund which will not be easily exhausted.[35]

36. General Arnold is gone to the Enemy.[36]

1781

37. To guard against Assassination (which I neither expect, nor dread) is impossible—but I have not been without my apprehensions of the other attempt—Not from the enemy at New York—but the Tories & disaffected of this place; who might, in the Night, carry me off in my own Boat and all be ignorant of it till the Morning.[37]

38. You ought to have considered yourself as my representative, and should have reflected on the bad example of communicating with the enemy, and making a voluntary offer of refreshment to them with a view to prevent a conflagration.[38]

1782

39. But you may rely upon it, the patience & long sufferance of this Army are almost exhausted, and that there never was so great a spirit of Discontent as at this instant.[39]

1783

40. Be courteous to all, but intimate with few, and let those few be well tried before you give them your confidence—true friendship is a plant of slow growth.[40]

41. For it will not be believed that such a force as Great Britain has employed for eight years in this Country could be baffled in their plan of Subjugating it by numbers infinitely less—composed of Men often times half starved—always in Rags—without pay—& experiencing, at times, every Species of distress which human nature is capable of undergoing.[41]

42. If Peace takes place, never sheath your Sword says he untill you have obtained full and ample Justice.[42]

43. The establishment of funds, and security of the payment of all the just demands of the Army will be the most certain means of preserving the National faith & future tranquility of this extensive Continent … a Country rescued by their Arms from impending ruin, will never leave unpaid the debt of gratitude.[43]

44. An extra ration of liquor to be issued to every man tomorrow, to drink Perpetual Peace, Independence & Happiness to the United States of America.[44]

45. It now rests with the confederated Powers, by the line of conduct they mean to adopt, to make this Country great, happy, & respectable; or to sink it into littleness—worse perhaps—into Anarchy & Confusion; for certain I am, that unless adequate Powers are given to Congress for thegeneral purposes of the Federal Union that we shall soon moulder into dust.[45]

[1] George Washington’s Address to the Continental Congress, June 16, 1775, Founders Online, National Archives (http://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-01-02-0001, accessed November 6, 2015); in The Papers of George Washington, Revolutionary War Series ( Charlottesville: University Press of Virginia, 1985-2013), 1:1–3.

[2] George Washington’s Address to the Continental Congress, June 16 1775, Founders Online, National Archives (http://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-01-02-0001, accessed November 18, 2015); in The Papers of George Washington, 1:1–3.

[3] George Washington to Burwell Bassett, June 19, 1775, Founders Online, National Archives (http://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-01-02-0006, accessed November 18, 2015); in The Papers of George Washington, 1:12–14.

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[4] Washington to Richard Henry Lee, July 10 1775, Founders Online, National Archives (http://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-01-02-0050, accessed November 18, 2015); in The Papers of George Washington, 1:98–100.

[5] Washington to John Augustine Washington, July 27, 1775, Founders Online, National Archives (http://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-01-02-0115, accessed November 18, 2015); in The Papers of George Washington, 1:183–185.

[6] Washington to Lt. Gen. Thomas Gage, August 11, 1775, Founders Online, National Archives (http://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-01-02-0192, accessed November 20, 2015); in The Papers of George Washington, 1:289–291.

[7] Washington to Gage, August 19, 1775, Founders Online, National Archives (http://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-01-02-0227, accessed December 6, 2015); in The Papers of George Washington, 1:326–328.

[8] Washington to Lund Washington, August 20, 1775, Founders Online, National Archives (http://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-01-02-0234, accessed December 6, 2015); in The Papers of George Washington, 1:334–340.

[9] Washington to Lund Washington, August 20, 1775, Founders Online, National Archives (http://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-01-02-0234, accessed December 10, 2015); in The Papers of George Washington, 1:334–340.

[10] Washington to Maj. Gen. Philip Schuyler, August 20, 1775, Founders Online, National Archives (http://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-01-02-0233, accessed December 11, 2015); in The Papers of George Washington, 1:331–334.

[11] General Orders, August 22, 1775, Founders Online, National Archives (http://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-01-02-0240, November 4, 2015); in The Papers of George Washington, 1:346–348.

[12] Washington to Lund Washington, November 26, 1775, Founders Online, National Archives (http://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-02-02-0396, accessed December 11, 2015); in The Papers of George Washington, 2:431–433.

[13] Washington to Lt. Col. Joseph Reed, January 14, 1776, Founders Online, National Archives (http://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-03-02-0062, accessed December 11, 2015); in The Papers of George Washington, 3:87–92.

[14] Washington to John Hancock, February 9, 1776, Founders Online, National Archives (http://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-03-02-0201, accessed December11, 2015); in The Papers of George Washington, 3:274–277.

[15] Washington to Phillis Wheatley, February 28, 1776, Founders Online, National Archives (http://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-03-02-0281, accessed December 9, 2015); in The Papers of George Washington, 3:387.

[16] Washington to John Augustine Washington, March 31, 1776, Founders Online, National Archives (http://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-03-02-0429, accessed December 9, 2015); in The Papers of George Washington, 3:566–571.

[17] Washington to John Augustine Washington, May 31 – June 4, 1776, Founders Online, National Archives (http://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-04-02-0333, accessed December 6, 2015); in The Papers of George Washington, 4:411–414.

[18] Washington to John Augustine Washington, May 31 – June 4, 1776, Founders Online, National Archives (http://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-04-02-0333, accessed December 7, 2015); in The Papers of George Washington, 4:411–414.

[19] General Orders, July 2, 1776, Founders Online, National Archives (http://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-05-02-0117, accessed December 8, 2015); in The Papers of George Washington, 5:179–182.

[20] Washington to Lund Washington, October 6, 1776, Founders Online, National Archives (http://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-06-02-0379, accessed December 8, 2015); in The Papers of George Washington, 6:493–495.

[21] Washington to Lund Washington, December 10-17, 1776, Founders Online, National Archives (http://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-07-02-0228, accessed December 8, 2015); in The Papers of George Washington, 7:289–292.

[22] Washington to the Executive Committee of the Continental Congress, January 1, 1777, Founders Online, National Archives (http://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-07-02-0395, accessed December 8, 2015); in The Papers of George Washington, 7:499–501.

[23] Washington to the New York Convention, February 10, 1777, Founders Online, National Archives (http://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-08-02-0320, accessed December 9, 2015); in The Papers of George Washington, 8:299–300.

[24] General Orders, May 8, 1777, Founders Online, National Archives (http://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-09-02-0356, accessed December 6, 2015); in The Papers of George Washington, 9:368.

[25] Washington to Gen. William Howe, October 6, 1777, Founders Online, National Archives (http://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-11-02-0432, accessed December 13, 2015); in The Papers of George Washington, 11:410.

[26] Washington to Richard Henry Lee, October 16, 1777, Founders Online, National Archives (http://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-11-02-0538, accessed December 13, 2015); in The Papers of George Washington, 11:529–530.

[27] Washington to Henry Laurens, December 23, 1777, Founders Online, National Archives (http://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-12-02-0628, accessed December 14, 2015); in The Papers of George Washington, 12:683–687.

[28] Washington to William Gordon, January 23, 1778, Founders Online, National Archives (http://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-13-02-0281, December 14, 2015); in The Papers of George Washington, 13:322–323.

[29] General Orders, March 1, 1778, Founders Online, National Archives (http://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-14-02-0001, December 14, 2015); in The Papers of George Washington, 14:1–4.

[30] Washington to Catharine Wilhelmina Livingston, March 18, 1778, Founders Online, National Archives (http://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-14-02-0188, accessed December 15, 2015); in The Papers of George Washington, 14:218

[31] Washington to John Banister, April 21, 1778, Founders Online, National Archives (http://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-14-02-0525, accessed December 15, 2015); in The Papers of George Washington, 14:573–579.

[32] Address to the Delaware Nation, May 12, 1779, Founders Online, National Archives (http://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-20-02-0388, accessed December 16, 2015); in The Papers of George Washington, 20:447–449.

[33] Washington to Maj. Gen. Robert Howe, August 17, 1779, Founders Online, National Archives (http://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-22-02-0139, accessed December 16, 2015); in The Papers of George Washington, 22:160–161.

[34] Circular to the States, December 16, 1779; Edward G. Lengel, ed., This Glorious Struggle, George Washington’s Revolutionary War Letters (New York, NY: HarperCollins Publishers, 2007), 195.

[35] Washington to Joseph Reed, May 28, 1780; Lengel, This Glorious Struggle, 203.

[36] Washington to Nathaniel Wade, September 25, 1780, Founders Online, National Archives (http://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/99-01-02-03387, accessed December 16, 2015).

[37] Washington to William Heath, April 7, 1781, Founders Online, National Archives (http://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/99-01-02-05324, accessed December 27, 2015).

[38] Washington to Lund Washington, April 30, 1781; Lengel, This Glorious Struggle, 229.

[39] Washington to Benjamin Lincoln, October 2, 1782, Founders Online, National Archives (http://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/99-01-02-09633, accessed December 28, 2015).

[40] Washington to Bushrod Washington, January 15, 1783, Founders Online, National Archives (http://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/99-01-02-10429, accessed Decmber 28, 2015).

[41] Washington to Nathanael Greene, February 6, 1783, Founders Online, National Archives (http://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/99-01-02-10582, accessed December 27, 2015).

[42] Washington to Officers of the Army, March 15, 1783, Founders Online, National Archives (http://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/99-01-02-10840, accessed December 28, 2015).

[43] Washington to Elias Boudinot, March 18, 1783; Lengel, This Glorious Struggle, 272-273.

[44] General Orders, April 18, 1783, Founders Online, National Archives (http://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/99-01-02-11097, accessed December 27, 2015).

[45] Washington to William Gordon, July 8,1783, Founders Online, National Archives (http://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/99-01-02-11573, accessed December 28, 2015).