Rutherford B. Hayes: Trending quotes (page 4)

“The [Loyal] legion has taken the place of the club — the famous Cincinnati Literary Club — in my affections…. The military circles are interested in the same things with myself, and so we endure, if not enjoy, each other.”

Rutherford B. Hayes

Letter to Fanny Hayes (1 November 1885)
Diary and Letters of Rutherford Birchard Hayes (1922 - 1926)

“Every good cause gained a victory when the Union troops were triumphant. Our final victory was the triumph of religion, of virtue, of knowledge…. During those four years, whatever our motives, whatever our lives, we were fighting on God’s side. We were doing His work. What would this country have been if we had failed?”

Rutherford B. Hayes

Diary (27 October 1883)
Diary and Letters of Rutherford Birchard Hayes (1922 - 1926)

God , Religion , Motivation , Knowledge

“The melancholy thing in our public life is the insane desire to get higher.”

Rutherford B. Hayes

Letter "to a leading editor" (10 April 1875), as quoted in The Life, Public Services and Select Speeches of Rutherford B. Hayes (1876) http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/22037 edited by James Quay Howard, ch. X, p. 144

Life

“The President of the United States of necessity owes his election to office to the suffrage and zealous labors of a political party, the members of which cherish with ardor and regard as of essential importance the principles of their party organization; but he should strive to be always mindful of the fact that he serves his party best who serves the country best.”

Rutherford B. Hayes

Inaugural Address (5 March 1877)

Country

“The debt was the most sacred obligation incurred during the war. It was by no means the largest in amount. We do not haggle with those who lent us money. We should not with those who gave health and blood and life. If doors are opened to fraud, contrive to close them. But don’t deny the obligation, or scold at its performance.”

Rutherford B. Hayes

About the Arrears of Pensions Act (1879) for disabled Union veterans, which Hayes cheerfully signed, which was roundly criticized as too expensive and too open to fraud by unscrupulous veterans fabricating service-related injuries.
Letter to William Henry Smith (19 December 1881)
Diary and Letters of Rutherford Birchard Hayes (1922 - 1926)

Life , Money , War , Health

“Let me assure my countrymen of the Southern States that it is my earnest desire to regard and promote their truest interest — the interests of the white and of the colored people both and equally — and to put forth my best efforts in behalf of a civil policy which will forever wipe out in our political affairs the color line and the distinction between North and South, to the end that we may have not merely a united North or a united South, but a united country.”

Rutherford B. Hayes

Inaugural Address (5 March 1877)

People , Color , Effort , Country

“Conscience is the authentic voice of God to you.”

Rutherford B. Hayes

Letter to his son, Scott R. Hayes (8 March 1892)
Diary and Letters of Rutherford Birchard Hayes (1922 - 1926)

God

“We had an inspection today of the brigade. The Twenty-third was pronounced the crack regiment in appearance, … [but] I could see only six to ten in a company of the old men. They all smiled as I rode by. But as I passed away I couldn’t help dropping a few natural tears. I felt as I did when I saw them mustered in at Camp Chase.”

Rutherford B. Hayes

Letter to Lucy Webb Hayes (17 December 1864)
Diary and Letters of Rutherford Birchard Hayes (1922 - 1926)