What I Read This Weekend
Resignation Speech, by George Washington (December 23, 1783)
Lord Acton famously declared that “Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” It is undeniable that, be it human nature or the nature of world affairs, leaders have a tendency to enjoy the trappings of power and at times find it complicated when it ends. As such, leaders who willingly give up power are few and far in between. And leaders who willingly give up power, when no election or regime change calls for them to step down, are incredibly rare. Cincinnatus, Emperor Charles V or Pope Benedict XVI are some well-known examples (Nelson Mandela and José Mujica did not stand for reelection). But only one person did it twice: George Washington.
Lucius Cornelius Sulla is another well-known figure who laid down the powers and trappings of dictatorship, and retired. But Mr. Sulla’s resignation was not to enshrine democracy. In fact, the epitaph he chose for his own tomb summarizes it perfectly: "No friend ever served me, and no enemy ever wronged me, whom I have not repaid in full." His leadership was characterized by great bloodshed and authoritarian reforms, and his resignation was defiant arrogance and bravado. Whereas he reinforced tyranny before withdrawing, Mr. Washington birthed a republic.
By relinquishing power, George Washington arguably helped define the ideals and aspirations of American republicanism. Upon learning of his decision, King George III reportedly said, “If he does that, he will be the greatest man in the world.” Mr. Washington showed the importance of restraint as leadership, in barely six paragraphs, in demonstrating the power of knowing when to step back. Contrasting with today’s performative, often clinging leadership, Mr. Washington offered the United States a founding act of humility. He understood that stepping down can sometimes achieve more than staying on. But it is perhaps his letter of resignation of 1783 that contrasts the most with other leaders. His tone is humble, even subdued, and devoid of triumphalism. Instead, he praises the works of those around him and in his moment of departure calls for favorable treatment to be extended to them, “Permit me Sir, to recommend in particular those, who have continued in Service to the present moment, as worthy of the favorable notice and patronage of Congress.”
As for his second resignation from public life, his Farewell Address, published in 1796, offers no self-congratulation and no claim of indispensability. Instead, it is marked by modesty and civic responsibility. He writes: “Though, in reviewing the incidents of my administration, I am unconscious of intentional error, I am nevertheless too sensible of my defects not to think it probable that I may have committed many errors.” It is a line that speaks volumes. Not only in its humility, but in its understanding that leadership is not a possession. It is a responsibility.
All of this casts a sharp light on today’s leadership culture. In our era, where power defines status and the conflation of wealth, visibility, and influence grows ever more dominant, Mr. Washington’s example feels not only rare but radical. We live in a time when too many leaders mistake attention for achievement, and longevity for legitimacy. Remembering that true leadership means knowing when to step aside, and when to place trust in institutions rather than bend them to one’s will, is not an act of nostalgia. It is a matter of democratic survival. The republic needs fewer performers and more stewards. Above all, it needs the kind of quiet courage that recognizes, as Mr. Washington did, that restraint is not weakness but strength in its highest form. He won a war without crowning himself, and in doing so, gave his country its soul. A lesson we forget at our own peril.
Resignation Speech - George Washington 1783:
https://www.emersonkent.com/speeches/resignation_speech.htm