146 Quotes by Rutherford B. Hayes

It is a government of the people by the people for the people no longer it is a government of corporations by corporations for corporations.

Unjust attacks on public men do them more good than unmerited praise. They are hurt less by undeserved censure than by undeserved commendation. Abuse helps; often praise hurts.

If any of my men kill prisoners, I’ll kill them.

We are in a period when old questions are settled and the new are not yet brought forward. Extreme party action, if continued in such a time, would ruin the party. Moderation is its only chance. The party out of power gains by all partisan conduct of those in power.

An amazing invention – but who would ever want to use one?

Perhaps the happiest moment of my life was then, when I saw that our line didn’t break and that the enemy’s did.

Disunion and civil war are at hand; and yet I fear disunion and war less than compromise. We can recover from them. The free States alone, if we must go on alone, will make a glorious nation.

In the great and deep qualities of mind, heart, and soul, there is no change. Homer and Solomon speak to the same nature in man that is reached by Shakespeare and Lincoln. but in the accidents, the surroundings, the change is vast. All things now are mobile – movable.

My wish for the American woman is that she may always be an elevating influence-man’s inspiration. Let him go forth to duty while she weaves the spell which makes home a paradise to which he may return, ever welcome, whether he is victor or vanquished.