3 Whisky Happy HourThe Ricochet PodcastGLoP CultureBeyond the Polls with Henry OlsenParsing Immigration PolicyFederalist Radio HourWhat the Hell Is Going OnFreedom to LearnDaily SignalThe Erick Erickson ShowChicks on The Right3 Martini LunchThe Learning CurveThe Conservative Woman’s GuideHeritage ExplainsNot Dead YetGiving VenturesWho Funds that?The Radio Free Hillsdale HourThe Glenn ShowFirst Things PodcastCall Me Back - with Dan SenorHillsdale DialoguesLaw Talk with Epstein, Yoo & CookeThe LibertarianThe Report Card with Nat MalkusThe Kevin Roberts Show with Larry O’ConnorThe American IdeaMadison’s NotesConservative Crossroads with Henry OlsenMom WarsThe Back of the BookGray MattersMartini ShotThe Dave Carter ShowThe Powerline ShowIn DissentHeard at HeritageSmart Girl PoliticsJames Lileks’ The DinerCase in Point: The Legal Show on the Hottest Legal Cases in Politics and CultureJobMakersOne on One with Robert DoarHomeschooling Journeys with Curious MikeHubwonk

Get the Ricochet app

Ricochet will work fine in a browser on your mobile devices, but for the best experience please download our app.

Download on the App StoreGet it on Google Play

Become a member.

Tired of the toxicity of social media? Why not join Ricochet for just $5/month? Think of it as an online bar. Come in, have a drink, hang out, say whatever you want. But don’t badger, bully, or berate the other drinkers. That's our only rule.

  1. Main Feed/
  2. Quote of the Day: Where are the Honest Men?
August 26, 2026 at 6:00 PM

Quote of the Day: Where are the Honest Men?

Susan Quinn
@SusanQuinn

To read this bio, please join Ricochet.

Join to bookmark22likesJoin to like28comments

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. --George Washington

For those who know anything about George Washington, there is no escaping the fact that whatever limitations he saw in himself (he regretted especially the limits of his formal education), he earned the admiration of America. He became known for the very attributes he celebrated: firmness and virtue of the honest man. He followed up on his commitments, even served a second term as president when he felt he needed to, despite wanting to go home to Mount Vernon. He fought for his army to be paid and did his best to care for them, even taking the risk of giving them the new smallpox inoculation. He serves as the ultimate example, the epitome of a great president.

Unfortunately, firmness, virtue and honesty are in short supply in our times. The latest inroads made by the Democratic Socialists reflect a naivete, if not an insidious motivation, for moving this country forward. Members of Congress on both sides of the aisle continually disappoint us with their lack of commitment, their arrogance in refusing to listen to the people, and their reluctance to take risks for the betterment of the country. Hoaxes and frauds abound as the Democrats make up lies to malign or destroy the lives of their rivals, showing that dedication to honesty is in short supply, if not non-existent.

Our government is supposed to be subject to the will of the people. We have entrusted them with the power and means to accomplish work that will lead us to a virtuous, prosperous, dynamic future. Spending three days per week working in Washington, DC, limits their ability to get anything done, and especially to complete the job with integrity.

Where are the honest men?

This post was promoted to the Main Feed by an editor.

Discussion (28)

Sign in to commentSign in
  • To read this bio, please join Ricochet.

    Stad@Stad·7w
    Susan Quinn (View Post):

    Where are the honest men?

    [Stad waves his hands] Right here!

  • To read this bio, please join Ricochet.

    JoelB@JoelB·7w

    America is fortunate to have a man like Washington set the example for leadership. It's now time to light the lantern of Diogenes.

  • To read this bio, please join Ricochet.

    Arahant@Arahant·7w
    Susan Quinn (View Post):

    Unfortunately, firmness, virtue and honesty are in short supply in these times.

    They always were, but we had several bits of culture in place that helped bring them to the top. All of those safety features have been stripped away over the centuries, just as the Checks and Balances in the Constitution were stripped away.

  • To read this bio, please join Ricochet.

    Doctor Robert@DoctorRobert·7w

    I had forgotten that Washington had his army vaccinated against smallpox. How does this compare to the Covid vaccinations imposed upon the military in 2021?

  • To read this bio, please join Ricochet.

    Susan Quinn@SusanQuinn·7w
    ReplyingtoArahant
    Susan Quinn (View Post):

    Unfortunately, firmness, virtue and honesty are in short supply in these times.

    Arahant (View Comment):

    They always were, but we had several bits of culture in place that helped bring them to the top. All of those safety features have been stripped away over the centuries, just as the Checks and Balances in the Constitution were stripped away.

    That's an interesting point, Charley. Could you elaborate on those "bits of culture"?

Scroll for later comments
+23 more comments
Join the conversation

You're seeing five of 28 comments. Sign in, or join for just $5 per month, to read them all and add your own.

Trending

Become a member.

Tired of the toxicity of social media? Why not join Ricochet for just $5/month? Think of it as an online bar. Come in, have a drink, hang out, say whatever you want. But don’t badger, bully, or berate the other drinkers. That's our only rule.

Join Ricochet

Get the Ricochet app

Download on the App StoreGet it on Google Play
  • •
  • •