While the political divide in the United States may seem as intense as ever, some of the nation’s greatest presidents in history have shared important advice about unity and patriotism that has resonated throughout time — and still does today.
As we celebrate Presidents Day on Monday and this weekend, the advice and words of wisdom from presidents who led America are worth a close look.
Notable commanders-in-chief such as Revolutionary War hero and first U.S. President George Washington conveyed pride in our country and freedom of speech as America’s foundations.
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Civil War victor and lawyer President Abraham Lincoln left a legacy of addressing the threat posed to the nation when Americans turn against one another.
The first celebration of Presidents Day took place in 1885 as a way to celebrate the birth of the nation’s founder — but the holiday has evolved over the years into a celebration of the service of past and present commanders-in-chief.
In 1971, Congress moved the holiday to the third Monday in February so that Americans could enjoy a three-day weekend.
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The date also falls between Washington’s and Lincoln’s birthdays.
Presidential historian Craig Shirley, whose newest book is “The Search for Reagan: The Appealing Intellectual Conservatism of Ronald Reagan,” told Fox News Digital in an interview last year that Washington is the “foundation of America” — while Lincoln always considered the intentions of the Founding Fathers.
All Americans should relish the words of these former patriots, said Shirley — and their words should be “taken literally” by civilians and politicians alike.
“Everybody should shout those words,” Shirley said. “There should be no disagreement about those words whatsoever.”
“Those are actually bipartisan thoughts. They’re not just the thoughts of the Republican Party, the conservative movement or libertarians or anything else. They should be the thoughts of all Americans.”
In celebration of Presidents Day, here is some sound advice from great U.S. presidents, pulled from their speeches and writings.
“If freedom of speech is taken away, then dumb and silent we may be led, like sheep to the slaughter.” — Washington’s address to the officers of the Army, March 15, 1783
“Happiness depends more upon the internal frame of a person’s own mind, than on the externals in the world.” — Letter to mother Mary Ball Washington, Feb. 15, 1787
“For in politics … my tenets are few and simple. The leading one of which, and indeed that which embraces most others, is to be honest and just ourselves and to exact it from others, meddling as little as possible in their affairs where our own are not involved. If this maxim was generally adopted, wars would cease and our swords would soon be converted into reap hooks and our harvests be more peaceful, abundant and happy.” — Letter to Dr. James Anderson, Dec. 24, 1795
“A primary object should be the education of our youth in the science of government. In a republic, what species of knowledge can be equally important? And what duty more pressing than communicating it to those who are to be the future guardians of the liberties of the country?” — Eighth Annual Message to Congress, Dec. 7, 1796
“Guard against the impostures of pretended patriotism.”
“Citizens by birth or choice of a common country, that country has a right to concentrate your affections. The name of American, which belongs to you, in your national capacity, must always exalt the just pride of Patriotism, more than any appellation derived from local discriminations.”
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“It is of infinite moment, that you should properly estimate the immense value of your national Union to your collective and individual happiness; that you should cherish a cordial, habitual, and immovable attachment to it; accustoming yourselves to think and speak of it as of the palladium of your political safety and prosperity; watching for its preservation with jealous anxiety; discountenancing whatever may suggest even a suspicion, that it can in any event be abandoned; and indignantly frowning upon the first dawning of every attempt to alienate any portion of our country from the rest, or to enfeeble the sacred ties which now link together the various parts.”
“Associate yourself with Men of good Quality if you Esteem your own Reputation; for ’tis better to be alone than in bad Company.”
“Every action done in company ought to be with some sign of respect, to those that are present.”
“When a man does all he can though it succeeds not well blame not him that did it.”
“Speak not evil of the absent for it is unjust.”
“Upon the subject of education, not presuming to dictate any plan or system respecting it, I can only say that I view it as the most important subject which we as a people can be engaged in.” — First political announcement, March 9, 1832
“Any people anywhere, being inclined and having the power, have the right to rise up, and shake off the existing government, and form a new one that suits them better. This is a most valuable — a most sacred right — a right, which we hope and believe, is to liberate the world.” — Speech to the House of Representatives, Jan. 12, 1848
“The ballot is stronger than the bullet.” — Republican State Convention of Illinois, 1856
“I leave you, hoping that the lamp of liberty will burn in your bosoms until there shall no longer be a doubt that all men are created free and equal.” — Speech in Chicago, Illinois, July 17, 1858
“Our reliance is in the love of liberty which God has planted in our bosoms. Our defense is in the preservation of the spirit which prizes liberty as the heritage of all men, in all lands, everywhere.” — Speech at Edwardsville, Sept. 11, 1858
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“This is a world of compensations; and he who would be no slave, must consent to have no slave. Those who deny freedom to others, deserve it not for themselves; and, under a just God, can not long retain it.” — Letter to Henry L. Pierce, April 6, 1859
“Let us at all times remember that all American citizens are brothers of a common country, and should dwell together in the bonds of fraternal feeling.” — Springfield, Illinois, remarks, Nov. 20, 1860
“At what point then is the approach of danger to be expected? I answer, if it ever reach us, it must spring up amongst us. It cannot come from abroad. If destruction be our lot, we must ourselves be its author and finisher. As a nation of freemen, we must live through all time, or die by suicide.”
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“Let every American, every lover of liberty, every well-wisher to his posterity, swear by the blood of the Revolution, never to violate in the least particular, the laws of the country; and never to tolerate their violation by others.”
“Leave nothing for tomorrow which can be done today.”
“Let no young man choosing the law for a calling for a moment yield to the popular belief — resolve to be honest at all events; and if in your own judgment you cannot be an honest lawyer, resolve to be honest without being a lawyer.”
Phillip Nieto contributed reporting.
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