George Washington: Excessive partiality for one foreign nation and excessive dislike of another...

Yale Law ^ | Farewell Address 1796 | George Washington

[CondoleezzaProtege]

Against the insidious wiles of foreign influence (I conjure you to believe me, fellow-citizens) the jealousy of a free people ought to be constantly awake, since history and experience prove that foreign influence is one of the most baneful foes of republican government...

Excessive partiality for one foreign nation and excessive dislike of another cause those whom they actuate to see danger only on one side, and serve to veil and even second the arts of influence on the other. Real patriots who may resist the intrigues of the favorite are liable to become suspected and odious, while its tools and dupes usurp the applause and confidence of the people, to surrender their interests.

The great rule of conduct for us in regard to foreign nations is in extending our commercial relations, to have with them as little political connection as possible. So far as we have already formed engagements, let them be fulfilled with perfect good faith...

The nation which indulges towards another a habitual hatred or a habitual fondness is in some degree a slave. It is a slave to its animosity or to its affection, either of which is sufficient to lead it astray from its duty and its interest...

Antipathy in one nation against another disposes each more readily to offer insult and injury, to lay hold of slight causes of umbrage, and to be haughty and intractable, when accidental or trifling occasions of dispute occur. Hence, frequent collisions, obstinate, envenomed, and bloody contests. The nation, prompted by ill-will and resentment, sometimes impels to war the government, contrary to the best calculations of policy.

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TOPICS: History; Religion
KEYWORDS: foundingfathers; georgewashington; joooooooooooooooooos; peace; washington

[CondoleezzaProtege]

Observe good faith and justice towards all nations; cultivate peace and harmony with all.

Who can doubt that, in the course of time and things, the fruits of such a plan would richly repay any temporary advantages which might be lost by a steady adherence to it ?

George Washington
Farewell Address 1796

[Ultra Sonic 007]

Be prepared for scores of people to tell you that “isolationism is a pipe dream” in today’s world, and that Washington’s wisdom is outdated.

[CondoleezzaProtege]

It's prophetic!

As to foreign influence...such attachments are particularly alarming to the truly enlightened and independent patriot. How many opportunities do they afford to tamper with domestic factions, to practice the arts of seduction, to mislead public opinion, to influence or awe the public councils...

[Alberta's Child]

100%. LOL.

[Alberta's Child]

The great rule of conduct for us in regard to foreign nations is in extending our commercial relations, to have with them as little political connection as possible.

This one looks like a good addition to my profile page.

[Resolute Conservative]

I have been for isolationism on some scale for a long while. No more foreign wars and stop letting them muck up our economy. It is all about how much money politicians and multi-national corporations can steal from us.

[kaktuskid]

Except the wars often come to you. In Washington’s day, the enemy took weeks or months to arrive, not minutes.

[ek_hornbeck]

Be prepared for scores of people to tell you that “isolationism is a pipe dream” in today’s world, and that Washington’s wisdom is outdated.

I'm sure that those people would have done a much better job than George Washington commanding the Continental Army and presiding over the Continental Congresses /sarc>

[Brian Griffin]

Mister President, has any child of one of your friends ever spent time on a kibbutz in northern Israel?

[CondoleezzaProtege]

The Bible was written even earlier so do we scrap everything Jesus said?

And we were already engaged in proxy, target-specific conflicts with the Iranians anyway. Otherwise, they never did a Pearl Harbor.

[CondoleezzaProtege]

There are atrocities happening worldwide and were in Washington’s day as well. He’s not clueless.

[Angelino97]

Mister President, has any child of one of your friends ever spent time on a kibbutz in northern Israel?

What occurs in northern Israel (or southern Sri Lanka, or central Uruguay, or eastern Congo, or inner Mongolia ...) should be of no concern to an American.

[Albion Wilde]

bump

[Brian Griffin]

Note that ships that pass through the Strait normally pass in the part claimed by Oman.

Iran is now asking ships to sail in Iranian waters and pay big bucks for doing so.

[Resolute Conservative]

Make an example of anyone that does. We have the horsepower, they don’t (except for all their foreign agents living here that we need to eradicate).

[Angelino97]

Except the wars often come to you.

Which is far more likely to happen if we take sides in foreign disputes.

"They're over hear, because we're over there." -- Pat Buchanan

[DesertRhino]

Kibbutz = pure communist.

[Angelino97]

Note that ships that pass through the Strait normally pass in the part claimed by Oman. Iran is now asking ships to sail in Iranian waters and pay big bucks for doing so.

Yes, now Iran has closed the Strait.

The Strait was open until Israel started this war, and dragged the U.S. into it.

Had the U.S. remained neutral, Iran would not have closed the Strait.

U.S. foreign intervention created this problem.

Now we're supposed to fight a war, to solve a problem, that was created by this war.

[Uncle Miltie]

The point of which posting a 200+ year old quote today is what?

[proust]

“Now we’re supposed to fight a war, to solve a problem, that was created by this war.”

It would almost be amusing if it wasn’t costing a billion dollars a day, with another trillion demanded. No exit, no clear objectives stated.

And that doesn’t even get into the long term costs to our reputation and international standing.