Henry Cabot Lodge: “He was very human and intensely American, and this knit a bond between him and the American people which nothing could…”

All that can be said is, that without the influence and the labors of Washington the convention of 1787, in all probability, would have failed of success.

To put aside a crown for love of country is noble, but to look down upon such an opportunity indicates a much greater loftiness and strength of mind.

He flung aside the suggestion of supreme power, not simply as dishonorable and unpatriotic, but because such a result would have defeated the one great and noble object at which he aimed.

The bitter medicine of defeat, however unpalatable, is usually extremely sobering, but the strong new wine of success generally sets the heads of poor humanity spinning, and leads often to worse results than folly.