"if i was in any doubt, as to the right which the parliament of great britain had to tax us without our consent, i should most heartily coincide with you in opinion, that to petition, and petition only, is the proper method to apply for relief; because we should then be asking a favor, and not claiming a right, which, by the law of nature and our constitution, we are, in my opinion, indubitably entitled to. i should even think it criminal to go farther than this, under such an idea; but none such i have. i think the parliament of great britain hath no more right to put their hands into my pockets, without my consent, than i have to put my hands into yours for money; and this being already urged to them in a firm, but decent manner, by all the colonies, what reason is there to expect anything from their justice? "

-george washington, letter to bryan fairfax (july 20, 1774)

why does washington believe that just asking the british government to reduce taxes is the wrong course of action?

take five to 10 minutes to warm up and cool down properly.

plan to start slowly and boost your activity level gradually unless you are already exercising frequently and vigorously.

be aware that training too hard or too often can cause overuse injuries like stress fractures, stiff or sore joints and muscles, and inflamed tendons and ligaments. sports prompting repetitive wear and tear on certain parts of your body — such as swimming (shoulders), jogging (knees, ankles, and feet), tennis (elbows) — are often overuse culprits, too. a mix of different kinds of activities and sufficient rest is safer.

listen to your body. hold off on exercise when you're sick or feeling very fatigued. cut back if you cannot finish an exercise session, feel faint after exercise or fatigued during the day, or suffer persistent aches and pains in joints after exercising.

if you stop exercising for a while, drop back to a lower level of exercise initially. if you're doing strength training, for example, lift lighter weights or do fewer reps or sets.

for most people, simply drinking plenty of water is sufficient. but if you're working out especially hard or doing a marathon or triathlon, choose drinks that replace fluids plus essential electrolytes.

choose clothes and shoes designed for your type of exercise. replace shoes every six months as cushioning wears out.

for strength training, good form is essential. initially use no weight, or very light weights, when learning the exercises. never sacrifice good form by hurrying to finish reps or sets, or struggling to lift heavier weights.

exercising vigorously in hot, humid conditions can lead to serious overheating and dehydration. slow your pace when the temperature rises above 70°f. on days when the thermometer is expected to reach 80°f, exercise during cooler morning or evening hours or at an air-conditioned gym. watch for signs of overheating, such as headache, dizziness, nausea, faintness, cramps, or palpitations.

dress properly for cold-weather workouts to avoid hypothermia. depending on the temperature, wear layers you can peel off as you warm up. don't forget gloves.