As friends go it is less important to live. Rutherford B. Hayes More Quotes by Rutherford B. Hayes More Quotes From Rutherford B. Hayes Nobody ever left the presidency with less regret, less disappointment, fewer heart burnings, or any general content with the result of his term (in his own heart, I mean) than I do. Full of difficulty and trouble at first, I now find myself on smooth waters and under bright skies. Rutherford B. Hayes regret disappointment heart Shall the railroads govern the country, or shall the people govern the railroads? Shall the interest of railroad kings be chieflyregarded, or shall the interest of the people be paramount? Rutherford B. Hayes kings country people Virtue is defined to be mediocrity, of which either extreme is vice. Rutherford B. Hayes mediocrity virtue vices The climate of Ohio is perfect, considered as the home of an ideal republican people. Climate has much to do with national character.... A climate which permits labor out-of-doors every month in the year and which requires industry to secure comfort--to provide food, shelter, clothing, fuel, etc.--is the very climate which secures the highest civilization. Rutherford B. Hayes home doors character The melancholy thing in our public life is the insane desire to get higher. Rutherford B. Hayes getting-high insane desire My judgment is that neither House of Congress, nor both combined, have any right to interfere in the count. It is for the Vice-President to do it all.... There should be no compromise of our Constitutional rights. Rutherford B. Hayes president rights house One thing you may be sure of, I was not a party to covering up anything. Rutherford B. Hayes covering party may I am not liked as a President by the politicians in office, in the press, or in Congress. But I am content to abide the judgment - the sober second thought - of the people. Rutherford B. Hayes office president people I saw the man my friendwants pardoned, Thomas Flinton. He is a bright, good-looking fellow.... Of his innocence all are confident. The governor strikes me as a man seeking popularity, who lacks the independence and manhood to do right at the risk of losing popularity. Afraid of what will be said. He is prejudiced against the Irish and Democrats. Rutherford B. Hayes independence risk men The reform [of the civil service] should be thorough, radical, and complete. Rutherford B. Hayes thorough reform should Strikes and boycotting are akin to war, and can be justified only on grounds analogous to those which justify war, viz., intolerable injustice and oppression. Rutherford B. Hayes injustice-and-oppression justified war There is a great deal of strength in Garfield's life and struggles as a self-made man.... From poverty and obscurity, by labor at all avocations, he became a great scholar, a statesman, a major general, a Senator, a Presidential candidate.... The truth is, no man ever started so low that accomplished so much in all our history. Not Franklin or Lincoln even. Rutherford B. Hayes struggle self men These semi-traitors [Union generals who were not hostile to slavery] must be watched. Let us be careful who become army leaders in the reorganized army at the end of this Rebellion. The man who thinks that the perpetuity of slavery is essential to the existence of the Union, is unfit to be trusted. The deadliest enemy the Union has is slavery - in fact, its only enemy. Rutherford B. Hayes army men war He serves his party best who serves the country best. Rutherford B. Hayes presidential country art The gloomy theology of the orthodox--the Calvinists--I do not, I cannot believe. Many of the notions--nay, most of the notions--which orthodox people have of the divinity of the Bible, I disbelieve. I am so nearly infidel in all my views, that too, in spite of my wishes, that none but the most liberal doctrines can command my assent. Rutherford B. Hayes views bible believe I am a freeman and jolly as a beggar. Rutherford B. Hayes jolly beggar public-service Partisanship should be kept out of the pulpit... The blindest of partisans are preachers. All politicians expect and find more candor, fairness, and truth in politicians than in partisan preachers. They are not replied to - no chance to reply to them.... The balance wheel of free institutions is free discussion. The pulpit allows no free discussion. Rutherford B. Hayes wheels balance religion Let every man, every corporation, and especially let every village, town, and city, every county and State, get out of debt and keep out of debt. It is the debtor that is ruined by hard times. Rutherford B. Hayes debt-free hard-times men The best hopes of any community rest upon that class of its gifted young men who are not encumbered with large possessions.... I now speak of extensive scholarship and ripe culture in science and art.... It is not large possessions, it is large expectations, or rather large hopes, that stimulate the ambition of the young. Rutherford B. Hayes ambition men art It is now true that this is God's Country, if equal rights-a fair start and an equal chance in the race of life are everywhere secured to all. Rutherford B. Hayes race rights country