From the diaries of Joseph Farington (entry of December 28, 1799). Farington is repeating what West told him of the period shortly after the defeat of Cornwallis at Yorktown. James Greig (ed.) (1922), The Farington Diary, vol. i, pages: 278, place: London, publisher: Hutchinson
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He [ George III] asked West what would Washington do were America to be declared independant. West said He believed He would retire to a private situation -- The King said if He did He would be the greatest man in the world
— From the diaries of
What It Means
This is a placeholder explanation generated by the low-overhead model. It interprets "He [ George III] asked West what would Washington do were America to be declared independant. West said He believed He would retire to a private situation -- The King said if He did He would be the greatest man in the world" in the context of "From the diaries of Joseph Farington (entry of December 28, 1799). Farington is repeating what West told him of the period shortly after the defeat of Cornwallis at Yorktown. James Greig (ed.) (1922), The Farington Diary, vol. i, pages: 278, place: London, publisher: Hutchinson" to mean that wisdom is timeless.
Source: Wikiquote: "George Washington" (Quotes about George Washington: Sorted alphabetically by author or source
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The 'What it means' explanation text was generated by Google Gemini Flash (accessed February 05, 2026). https://gemini.google.com/app
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About George Washington
George Washington (22 February 1732 – 14 December 1799) was an American military officer, statesman, and Founding Father who served as the first president of the United States from 1789 to 1797. Appointed by the Second Continental Congress as commander of the Continental Army in June 1775, Washington led Patriot forces to victory in the American Revolutionary War and then served as president of the Constitutional Convention in 1787, which drafted and ratified the Constitution of the United States and established the American federal government. Washington has thus been called the "Father of his Country".
About George Washington
George Washington (22 February 1732 – 14 December 1799) was an American military officer, statesman, and Founding Father who served as the first president of the United States from 1789 to 1797. Appointed by the Second Continental Congress as commander of the Continental Army in June 1775, Washington led Patriot forces to victory in the American Revolutionary War and then served as president of the Constitutional Convention in 1787, which drafted and ratified the Constitution of the United States and established the American federal government. Washington has thus been called the "Father of his Country".
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