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We can't have a decent government unless those in power exercise self restraint.

William Howard Taft

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William Howard Taft
Age: 72 †
Born: 1857
Born: September 15
Died: 1930
Died: March 8
27Th U.S. President
Judge
Lawyer
Pedagogue
Politician
Prosecutor
Statesperson
University Teacher
Cincinnati
Ohio
William Taft
William H. Taft
President Taft
W. H. Taft
W. Taft
Exercise
Unless
Power
Government
Self
Restraint
Decent

More quotes by William Howard Taft

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I am glad to be going. This is the lonesomest pace in the world?
William Howard Taft
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I do not know much about politics, but I am trying to do the best I can with this administration until the time shall come for me to turn it over to somebody else.
William Howard Taft
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When the history of this period is written, [William Jennings] Bryan will stand out as one of the most remarkable men of his generation and one of the biggest political men of our country.
William Howard Taft
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I know how irritating it is to have somebody else lay down rules for your moral uplift, but you've got to stand a great deal in order to make progress.
William Howard Taft
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We are all imperfect. We can not expect perfect government.
William Howard Taft
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I think his greatest fault is his failure to accord credit to anyone for what he may have done. This is a great weakness in any man.
William Howard Taft
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I don't know the man I admire more than [Charles Evans] Hughes. If ever I have the chance I shall offer him the Chief Justiceship.
William Howard Taft
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The intoxication of power rapidly sobers off in the knowledge of its restrictions and under the prompt reminder of an ever-present and not always considerate press, as well as the kindly suggestions that not infrequently come from Congress.
William Howard Taft
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I'll be damned if I am not getting tired of this. It seems to be the profession of a President simply to hear other people talk.
William Howard Taft
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The true Mason's level of discernment increases with every use of the working tools, because the true Mason is ever working on him/her self.
William Howard Taft
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Substantial progress toward better things can rarely be taken without developing new evils requiring new remedies.
William Howard Taft
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One of the reforms to be carried out during the incoming administration is a change in our monetary and banking laws, so as to secure greater elasticity in the forms of currency available for trade and to prevent the limitations of law from operating to increase the embarrassment of a financial panic.
William Howard Taft
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The Masonic system represents a stupendous and beautiful fabric, founded on universal purity, to rule and direct our passions, to have faith and love in God, and charity toward man.
William Howard Taft
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I wish to reiterate all the reasons which [my predecessor] has presented in favor of the policy of maintaining a strong navy as the best conservator of our peace with other nations and the best means of securing respect for the assertion of our rights of the defense of our interests, and the exercise of our influence in international matters.
William Howard Taft
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I am afraid I am a constant disappointment to my party. The fact of the matter is, the longer I am President the less of a party man I seem to become.
William Howard Taft
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The cheerful loser is a sort of winner.
William Howard Taft
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In the public interest, therefore, it is better that we lose the services of the exceptions who are good Judges after they are seventy and avoid the presence on the Bench of men who are not able to keep up with the work, or to perform it satisfactorily.
William Howard Taft
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I do not think that there is any doubt about where I stand in respect to boycotts. If there is, I will just state what I think about them. They are illegal and ought to be suppressed. I would never countenance that which recognizes their legality.
William Howard Taft
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Unless education promotes character making, unless it helps men to be more moral, more just to their fellows, more law abiding, more discriminatingly patriotic and public spirited, it is not worth the trouble taken to furnish it.
William Howard Taft
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The prosperity of Masonry as a means of strengthening our religion and propagating true brotherly love, is one of the dearest wishes of my heart, which, I trust, will be gratified by the help of the Grand Architect of the Universe.
William Howard Taft