20 Quotes from George Washington and His Generals

 

General George Washington

“Remember officers and soldiers that you are free men, fighting for the blessings of liberty.”

General Benedict Arnold

“What do you think would be my fate if my misguided countrymen were to take me prisoner?”

General John Cadwalader

“General Howe is certainly gone to New York, unless the whole is a scheme to amuse and surprise.”

General Thomas Conway

“Heaven has been determined to save your Country, or a weak General and bad Councellors would have ruined it.”

General Christopher Gadsden

“What I can do for my country, I am willing to do.”

General Horatio Gates 

“If Old England is not by this lesson taught humility, then she is an obstinate old slut, bent upon her ruin.”

General Nathanael Greene 

“We fight, get beat, rise and fight again.”

General William Heath

“I have never been afraid of the force of the enemy. They must be well watched. They, like the Frenchman, look one way and row the other.”

General Johann De Kalb 

“I thank you for your sympathy – I die the death I always prayed for – the death of a soldier fighting for the rights of man.”  

General Henry Knox

“We want great men who, when fortune frowns, will not be discouraged.”

General Marquis de Lafayette 

“I am persuaded that the human race was created to be free and that I was born to serve that cause.”

General Charles Lee

“I…lament with you that fatal indecision of mind which in war is a much greater disqualification than stupidity…”

General Benjamin Lincoln 

“We must have black troops, and a limitless number of them too – paid and treated like their white brothers.”

General Hugh Mercer

“For my part I have but one object in view, and that is the success of the cause. God can witness how cheerfully I would lay down my life to secure it!”

General Thomas Mifflin

“There can be no right to power, except what is either founded upon, or speedily obtains the hearty consent of the body of the people.”

General Richard Montgomery

“I shall endeavour to discharge my duty to society, considering myself only as the citizen, moved by the melancholy necessity of taking up arms for the public safety.”

General Philip Schuyler

“I have done all that could be done, as far as the means were in my power, to injure the enemy and to inspire confidence in the soldiers of our army.”

General John Stark

“Live Free Or Die; Death Is Not The Worst Of Evils.”

General Freidrich von Steuben

“With regard to military discipline, I may safely say that no such thing existed in the Continental Army.”

General Anthony Wayne

“Issue the orders Sir, and I will storm Hell.”

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** Featured Image “George Washington and his Generals” painted by Jane Sutherland.

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