James A. Garfield

I love to deal with doctrines and events. The contests of men about men I greatly dislike.

Few men in our history have ever obtained the Presidency by planning to obtain it.

A law is not a law without coercion behind it.

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

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

I am trying to do two things: dare to be a radical and not a fool, which is a matter of no small difficulty.