To be prepared for war is one of the most effective means of preserving peace. – George Washington
Let us with caution indulge the supposition that morality can be maintained without religion. Reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle. – George Washington
My first wish is to see this plague of mankind, war, banished from the earth. – George Washington
The constitution vests the power of declaring war in Congress therefore no offensive expedition of importance can be undertaken until after they shall have deliberated upon the subject and authorized such a measure. – George Washington
I came here as a practical man, to talk, not simply on the question of peace and war, but to treat another question which is of hardly less importance – the enormous and burdensome standing armaments which it is the practice of modern Governments to sustain in time of peace. – Richard Cobden