John Hay Quotes

Former United States Secretary of State

John Hay was a prominent American statesman and diplomat, born on October 8, 1838, and died on July 1, 1905. He played a significant role in American history, known for his exceptional contributions to foreign policy.

Filter quotes by topic

All Men Thinking Earth Friendship Love People Sunshine Use Age Anguish

Famous John Hay Quotes

“I think that saving a little child And bringing him to his own, Is a derned sight better business Than loafing around the throne.”

Thinking Children Littles Childhood Sight Saving Thrones Loafing

Book:Pike County Ballads and Other Pieces

Source: Pike County Ballads and Other Pieces

“The people will come to their own at last,-God is not mocked forever.”

People Lasts Forever

Book:Pike County Ballads and Other Pieces

Source: Pike County Ballads and Other Pieces

“The use of proverbs is characteristic of an unlettered people. They are invaluable treasures to dunces with good memories.”

People Use Memories Treasure Characteristics Good Memories Invaluable Dunces

Book:Castilian Days

Source: Castilian Days

“Friends are the sunshine of life.”

Love Happiness Friendship Family Relationship Sunshine Real Friends Friendship Day Funny Friend

Book:Poems

Source: Poems

“True luck consists not in holding the best of the cards at the table; luckiest is he who knows just when to rise and go home.”

Knows Home Money Tables Luck Cards Gambling Casinos

Author:John Hay

“Break not the rose; its fragrance and beauty are surely sufficient, resting contented with these, never a thorn shall you feel.”

Feels Break Flower Rose Sufficient Fragrance

Book:The Complete Poetical Works of John Hay: Including Many Poems Now First Collected

Source: The Complete Poetical Works of John Hay: Including Many Poems Now First Collected

“Speak with the speech of the world; think with the thoughts of the few.”

Thinking World Speak Speech

Book:John Hay's Pike County: two tales and seven ballads

Source: John Hay's Pike County: two tales and seven ballads

“The evils of tyranny are rarely seen but by him who resists it.”

Evil Politics Liberty Revolution Libertarian Tyranny Tyrants Libertarianism

Book:Castilian Days

Source: Castilian Days

“At my door the Pale Horse stands to carry me to unknown lands.”

Doors Land Horse Pale

Book:The Complete Poetical Works of John Hay: Including Many Poems Now First Collected

Source: The Complete Poetical Works of John Hay: Including Many Poems Now First Collected

“There are occasions when you can hear the mysterious language of the Earth, in water, or coming through the trees, emanating from the mosses, seeping through the under currents of the soil, but you have to be willing to wait and receive.”

Earth Language Waiting Water Nature Tree Willing Currents Mysterious Occasions Soil Moss Willing To Wait

Author:John Hay

“Dealing with a government with whom mendacity is a science is an extremely difficult matter.”

Matter Government Difficult Mendacity

Author:John Hay

“There are three species of creatures who when they seem coming are going, when they seem going they come: diplomats, women, and crabs.”

Seems Three Creatures Species Diplomats Crabs

Author:John Hay

“It would never occur to most of us that 'plants' say anything at all, except in terms of what we read into them, or try to use them for. Yet in their responses to this wonderfully rhythmic and varying earth they are the most expressive of all forms of life.”

Trying Use Earth Form Spirit Religion Spirituality Term Plant Response Gardening Say Anything Expressive

Author:John Hay

“Make all good men your well-wishers, and then, in the years' steady sifting, Some of them turn into friends. Friends are the sunshine of life.”

Men Years Wells Turns Friendship Sunshine Good Man Steady Sifting

Book:Poems

Source: Poems

“The best loved man or maid in the town would perish with anguish Could they hear all that their friends say in the course of a day.”

Men Courses Towns Gossip Anguish Maids Best Love

Book:Poems

Source: Poems

“What is first love worth, except to prepare for a second? What does second love bring? Only regret for the first.”

Love Firsts Doe Regret First Love

Book:Pike County Ballads and Other Pieces

Source: Pike County Ballads and Other Pieces

“Maidens! why should you worry in choosing whom you shall marry? Choose whom you may, you will find you have got somebody else.”

Should May Marriage Worry Maidens

Book:The Complete Poetical Works of John Hay: Including Many Poems Now First Collected

Source: The Complete Poetical Works of John Hay: Including Many Poems Now First Collected

“Unto each man comes a day when his favorite sins all forsake him, And he complacently thinks he has forsaken his sins.”

Thinking Men Age Sin Old Age Forsake Forsaken

Book:The Complete Poetical Works of John Hay: Including Many Poems Now First Collected

Source: The Complete Poetical Works of John Hay: Including Many Poems Now First Collected

About the Author

Born: October 8, 1838
Died: July 1, 1905
Known for: Former United States Secretary of State
Quotes: 18

Books & Sources

The Complete Poetical Works of John Hay: Including Many Poems Now First CollectedRelated source material

Pike County Ballads and Other PiecesRelated source material

PoemsRelated source material

Castilian DaysRelated source material

John Hay's Pike County: two tales and seven balladsRelated source material

Similar Authors

Daisy WaughBrowse related quotes
Tommy SheridanBrowse related quotes
Jacques DelilleBrowse related quotes
Mike CloudBrowse related quotes
John Warren KindtBrowse related quotes
Lewis GoldbergBrowse related quotes
H. L. MenckenBrowse related quotes
Jackie BallardBrowse related quotes
E. W. HoweBrowse related quotes
Gregory DouglassBrowse related quotes