George Washington's Charisma (乔治 华盛顿的人格魅力）

Based on Vejas Gabriel Liulevicius' 的The Turning Point of Modern History，Chapter 9

https://www.thegreatcourses.com/courses/turning-points-in-modern-history （Can be borrowed via Libby;可在图书馆Libby借到）

George Washington‘s Charisma（乔治·华盛顿的人格魅力）

On March 15, 1783 the officers under George Washington's command met to discuss a petition that called for them to an open rebellion due to Congress' failure to provide them back pay and pensions for their service during the American Revolution. George Washington addressed the officers with a nine-page speech that sympathized with their demands but denounced their methods by which they proposed to achieve them.

(Soldiers in American Revolution; Source: Library of Congress.)

After reading the first paragraph, Washington reached for his glasses in his pocket. Washington was very self conscicous about his image in front of the public. Even thought he needed glasses, he typically does not wear it in the public. So the public were unaware of his eyesight issue.

He said, "Gentlemen, you must pardon me, for I have not only grown gray but almost blind in service to my country." 

Shocked and deeply moved by these words, his former officers laid down their arms and sought alternative solutions.

Such is an example of George Washington's leading by example.

ChatGpt译：

1783年3月15日，处于乔治·华盛顿指挥下的军官们聚集在一起，讨论了一份请愿书，要求他们因为国会未能支付他们在美国革命期间的工资和退休金而采取公开反叛行动。乔治·华盛顿用一篇九页的演讲向军官们表达了同情之情，但谴责了他们提出的用以实现这些要求的方法。

在阅读完第一段后，华盛顿伸手到口袋里拿出了他的眼镜。华盛顿非常在乎他在公众面前的形象。尽管他需要眼镜，但他通常不在公众面前戴它，因此公众不知道他的视力问题。

他说：“先生们，请原谅我（作者注：停顿下来戴眼镜），因为为了我的国家，我不仅头发已经花白，而且几乎失明了。”
("Gentlemen, you must pardon me, for I have not only grown gray but almost blind in service to my country.")

被这些话震惊和深受感动，他的前军官们放下了武器，寻求了替代解决方案。

这就是乔治·华盛顿以身作则的一个例子。