Washington's Crossing Quotes

“Americans tended to think of war as something that had to be done from time to time, for a particular purpose or goal. They fought not for the sake of fighting but for the sake of winning.”
― David Hackett Fischer, Washington's Crossing

“Until Washington crossed the Delaware, the triumph of the old order seemed inevitable. Thereafter, things would never be the same again.”
― David Hackett Fischer, Washington's Crossing

“It was typical of Washington’s style of leadership to present a promising proposal as someone else’s idea, rather than his own.”
― David Hackett Fischer, Washington's Crossing

“These are the times that try men’s souls,” Paine began. “The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis shrink from the service of his country; but he that stands it NOW deserves the love and thanks of man and woman.”
― David Hackett Fischer, Washington's Crossing

“An officer asked the general if the men should be enrolled. "No," said Washington, "men who will volunteer in such a case as this, need no enrollment to keep them to their duty." Only a few days before, Washington was infuriated with these men, and ready to clap some of them in irons. Now he was leading them in anothger way. This gentleman of Virginia was learning to treat a brigade of New England Yankee farmboys and fishermen as men of honor, who were entitled to equality of esteem. That attitude had already begun to spread throughout the army. In 1776, American officers addressed even their lowliest privates as gentlemen. No other army in the world operated on such a principle. Europeans were startled to observe it at work in America; Nicholas Collin observed in 1771, "all are called gentlemen and ladies." Here was a new idea of a gentleman, a moral condition rather than a social rank. It was also a new idea of honor, which was not defined by rank or status or gender, but by a principle of human dignity and decency.”
― David Hackett Fischer, Washington's Crossing

“Thus the fate of entire Kingdoms often depends upon a few blockheads and irresolute men.”43”
― David Hackett Fischer, Washington's Crossing