By Alan Graner
George Washington was a born leader, whether in state politics, the army, or as President of the United States where his every action set a precedent. His most stunning act of leadership was voluntarily stepping down from power after two terms, something no one had done since the early days of the Roman Republic some 2,000 years earlier.
Leadership
The harder the conflict, the greater the triumph.
I shall make it the most agreeable part of my duty to study merit, and reward the brave and deserving.
The true distinction … between what is called a fine Regiment, and an indifferent one will ever, upon investigation, be found to originate in, and depend upon the care, or the inattention, of the Officers belonging to them.
Be courteous to all, but intimate with few, and let those few be well tried before you give them your confidence.
A hundred thousand men, coming one after another, cannot move a Ton weight; but the united strength of 50 would transport it with ease.
Perfection falls not to the share of mortals.
It is infinitely better to have a few good men than many indifferent ones.
Orders, unless they are followed by close attention to the performance of them, are of little avail.
An army of asses led by a lion is vastly superior to an army of lions led by an ass.
Character
Associate with men of good quality if you esteem your own reputation, for it is better to be alone than in bad company.
I hope I shall possess firmness and virtue enough to maintain what I consider the most enviable of all titles, the character of an honest man.
Few men have virtue to withstand the highest bidder.
Nothing is a greater stranger to my breast, or a sin that my soul more abhors, than that black and detestable one, ingratitude
I shall not be deprived … of a comfort in the worst event, if I retain a consciousness of having acted to the best of my judgment.
Remember that it is the actions, and not the commission, that make the officer, and that there is more expected from him, than the title.
I hold the maxim no less applicable to public than to private affairs, that honesty is the best policy.
Making mistakes.
It is better to offer no excuse than a bad one.
We should not look back unless it is to derive useful lessons from past errors, and for the purpose of profiting by dearly bought experience.
99% of failures come from people who make excuses.
It is with pleasure I receive reproof, when reproof is due, because no person can be readier to accuse me, than I am to acknowledge an error, when I am guilty of one; nor more desirous of atoning for a crime, when I am sensible of having committed it.
To rectify past blunders is impossible, but we might profit by the experience of them.
It is much easier at all times to prevent an evil than to rectify mistakes.
What would you add?
Image: Emanuel Leutze, Metropolitan Museum of Art
Alan Graner is Chief Creative Officer at Daly-Swartz Public Relations, an Orange County, CA business marketing content and distribution firm. For content that makes you stick out from the crowd, email Jeffrey Swartz at jeffreyswartz@dsprel.com. Or visit www.dsprel.com.
