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Quotes from Rutherford B. Hayes

Hayes' Words

By Martin Kelly, About.com

"The President of the United States of necessity owes his election to office to the suffrage and zealous labors of a political party, ...but he should strive to be always mindful of the fact that he serves his party best who serves the country best."

"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."

"It is the desire of the good people of the whole country that sectionalism as a factor in our politics should disappear...."

"In avoiding the appearance of evil, I am not sure but I have sometimes unnecessarily deprived myself and others of innocent enjoyments."

"Nothing brings out the lower traits of human nature like office-seeking. Men of good character and impulses are betrayed by it into all sorts of meanness."

"Abolish plutocracy if you would abolish poverty."

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