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James A. Garfield

James A. Garfield Quotes

20th U.S. President

James A. Garfield was the 20th President of the United States, serving from 1881. His presidency was marked by efforts to reform the railroad and postal systems and to balance the relationship between the federal government and the states. Unfortunately, he was assassinated while in office, becoming the first U.S. president to be assassinated.

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Famous James A. Garfield Quotes

“All free governments are managed by the combined wisdom and folly of the people.”

People Government Political Politics Diversity Folly Free Government Character Education

Author:James A. Garfield

“Territory is but the body of a nation. The people who inhabit its hills and valleys are its soul, its spirit, its life.”

People Soul Body Spirit Nations Hills Patriotic Territory Valleys Patriot American Patriotic Great Patriotic New Territory Hills And Valleys Unfamiliar Territory

Book:The works of James Abram Garfield. Volume 2

Source: The works of James Abram Garfield. Volume 2

“The prosperity which now prevails is without parallel in our history. Fruitful seasons have done much to secure it, but they have not done all. The preservation of the public credit and the resumption of specie payments, so successfully attained by the Administration of my predecessors, have enabled our people to secure the blessings which the seasons brought.”

People Done Money Blessing Economics Seasons Constitution Prosperity Credit Secure Administration Preservation Parallels Payment Predecessors Resumption

Author:James A. Garfield

“It is not part of the functions of the national government to find employment for people - and if we were to appropriate a hundred millions for this purpose, we should be taxing forty millions of people to keep a few thousand employed.”

People Ifs Should Government Purpose Millions Thousand Hundred Function Employment Appropriate Forty Employed

Author:James A. Garfield

“Honesty is the best policy, says the familiar axiom; but people who are honest on that principle defraud no one but themselves.”

People Principles Honest Honesty Policy Familiar Axioms Honesty Is The Best Policy

Author:James A. Garfield

“There are men and women who make the world better just by being the kind of people they are. They have the gift of kindness or courage or loyalty or integrity. It really matters very little whether they are behind the wheel of a truck or running a business or bringing up a family. The teach the truth by living it.”

People Men World Kind Littles Matter Running Behinds Teach Kindness Integrity Men And Women Loyalty Wheels Truck Running A Business

Author:James A. Garfield

“Now more than ever the people are responsible for the character of their Congress. If that body be ignorant, reckless, and corrupt, it is because the people tolerate ignorance, recklessness, and corruption.”

Source: The works of James Abram Garfield. Volume 2

“Now more than ever the people are responsible for the character of their Congress. If that body be ignorant, reckless, and corrupt, it is because the people tolerate ignorance, recklessness, and corruption. If it be intelligent, brave, and pure, it is because the people demand these high qualities to represent them in the national legislature. . . . If the next centennial does not find us a great nation . . . it will be because those who represent the enterprise, the culture, and the morality of the nation do not aid in controlling the political forces.”

“The chief duty of government is to keep the peace and stand out of the sunshine of the people.”

People Government Duty Chiefs Sunshine Standing Out

Author:James A. Garfield

“The President is the last person in the world to know what the people really want and think.”

People Thinking Knows World Want Persons Lasts Political Politics President

Author:James A. Garfield

“The people are responsible for the character of their Congress.”

People Character Responsible Congress Voting Recklessness American Voters Centennial

Book:The works of James Abram Garfield. Volume 2

Source: The works of James Abram Garfield. Volume 2

“[I]t would be unjust to our people and dangerous to our institutions to apply any portion of revenues of the nation or of the States to the support of sectarian schools.”

People States Would Be School Nations Church Support Dangerous Institutions Portions Unjust Revenue Separation Of Church And State Separation Between Church And State

Book:The works of James Abram Garfield. Volume 2

Source: The works of James Abram Garfield. Volume 2

About the Author

Born: November 19, 1831
Died: September 19, 1881
Known for: 20th U.S. President
Quotes: 123

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Books & Sources

The works of James Abram Garfield. Volume 2Related source material

The works of James Abram Garfield. (2 Volumes) Volume 2Related source material

The works of James Abram Garfield. (2 Volumes) Volume 1Related source material

The works of James Abram Garfield. Volume 1Related source material

Inaugural Speeches from the Presidents of the United States - Complete EditionRelated source material

Works of James Abram GarfieldRelated source material

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