FFQF: George Washington on Virtue
Today is the first Friday of October! (My, how time flies!) Today also marks the beginning of our new theme for Founding Fathers’ Quote Friday! Today’s theme is VIRTUE. You may not recognize that word from the last TV show you watched, but if you read the discussions centered around last month’s theme — liberty — than you will definitely know that virtue has been a key word in our discussion. The quotes which will be selected from the Founding Fathers on virtue will no doubt bring the reason to light.
Today’s quote comes from President George Washington, a very fit person indeed to discuss the subject of virtue, as he excelled all his contemporaries in it, according to their own admission. This particular quote comes from his famous Farewell Address, which everybody knows about, but of those people, not many have read. It is well worth a read, and its full version, along with a digitized image of a newspaper that released the address (Washington decided to have it published and distributed rather than spoken aloud by himself) can be read here. It contained wise words of wisdom for America then, and now. Here then, are his words:
It is substantially true, that virtue or morality is a necessary spring of popular government. The rule, indeed, extends with more or less force to every species of free government. Who, that is a sincere friend to it, can look with indifference upon attempts to shake the foundation of the fabric ?
…Can it be, that Providence has not connected the permanent felicity of a Nation with its Virtue? The experiment, at least, is recommended by every sentiment which ennobles human nature. Alas! is it rendered impossible by its vices ?
How desperately we need to change our ways and give careful heed to the voice of our forefathers! However, we must not sit on our thumbs and wait for the politicians or the big corporations to get their act together. If we do not start with ourselves, the great possibility is that they will continue to do what they have always done. In a large degree, these demagogues depend on our laziness, gullibility, and indifference to do what they do. (Think about that the next time you hear some speechifying feel-gooder gets in front of a microphone and says “Without you, we just couldn’t do what we do!”)
As we progress through this month’s theme, stay tuned for a discussion of liberty, law, and virtue!
6 Responses to “FFQF: George Washington on Virtue”
October 3rd, 2008 at 6:19 pm
I think Washington was the paragon of virtue. What a great, great man.
Mine is up!
http://newyorktraveler.net/ffqf-john-adams-on-virtue/
October 3rd, 2008 at 6:20 pm
I managed to get today’s FFQF on time today. This is a worthy topic and I look forward to reading your future posts.
http://catoofutica.blogspot.com/2008/10/ffqf-madison-and-virtue.html
October 3rd, 2008 at 9:11 pm
Oh, this is excellent, Herky! He poses the question at the root of our problems, and I’m going to take the liberty of trying to put part of it into my own words:
Hasn’t God connected the blessings of America to its willingness to uphold His moral and ethical principles? Will America fall because of its immoral and evil practices?
Based on today’s vote in Congress, we are definitely on a slippery slope to tyranny.
Just as we want freedom without responsibility, so we expect God’s blessings without obedience to Him.
Thank you for this. My Samuel Adams is posted here:
http://akagaga.blogspot.com/2008/10/ffqf-samuel-adams-on-virtue.html
October 4th, 2008 at 2:47 am
Thanks, all! And Jean, that’s a great way to paraphrase it!
Hopefully my first post on the subject of liberty and virtue will be up soon.
October 5th, 2008 at 7:40 pm
Hey, nice blog! – I thought you might be interested in the libertarian philosophy show Freedomain Radio…. http://www.freedomainradio.com
November 1st, 2008 at 10:33 pm
http://jadamkraft.blogspot.com/2008/10/polticians-and-media-personalities.html
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