"Let us raise a standard to which the wise and honest can repair; the rest is in the hands of God"
About this Quote
The phrase “to which the wise and honest can repair” is doing quiet gatekeeping. Washington isn’t flattering everyone; he’s narrowing the invited audience to civic adults. “Repair” carries a double meaning: to go, but also to mend. The wise and honest aren’t merely supporters; they’re the ones tasked with fixing what the revolution breaks, with showing up after the slogans, when compromise and paperwork start to feel like betrayal. It’s an early American argument that character is a form of public policy.
Then comes the beautifully strategic shrug: “the rest is in the hands of God.” It reads pious, but it’s also a pressure valve. Washington acknowledges the limits of persuasion in a polarized environment without descending into contempt. He won’t spend the nation’s scarce energy trying to convert cynics or opportunists; let history, providence, and consequences sort them out. In context - a founding era anxious about faction, legitimacy, and moral cohesion - the line offers a blueprint: set a clear civic standard, rally the responsible, and refuse to be held hostage by the unserious.
Quote Details
| Topic | Leadership |
|---|---|
| Source | George Washington, Farewell Address (1796) , contains the line: "Let us raise a standard to which the wise and honest can repair; the rest is in the hands of God." |
| Cite |
Citation Formats
APA Style (7th ed.)
Washington, George. (2026, January 15). Let us raise a standard to which the wise and honest can repair; the rest is in the hands of God. FixQuotes. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/let-us-raise-a-standard-to-which-the-wise-and-27940/
Chicago Style
Washington, George. "Let us raise a standard to which the wise and honest can repair; the rest is in the hands of God." FixQuotes. January 15, 2026. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/let-us-raise-a-standard-to-which-the-wise-and-27940/.
MLA Style (9th ed.)
"Let us raise a standard to which the wise and honest can repair; the rest is in the hands of God." FixQuotes, 15 Jan. 2026, https://fixquotes.com/quotes/let-us-raise-a-standard-to-which-the-wise-and-27940/. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.
