William Howard Taft was the 27th president of the United States and the tenth Chief Justice of the United States. He is the only person to have held both offices. He was chosen by Roosevelt to succeed him and carry on the progressive Republican agenda. But, Taft as president alienated the progressives, and later Roosevelt, thereby contributing greatly to the split in Republican ranks in 1912. He was defeated for re-election by Woodrow Wilson in 1912. In 1921, President Warren G. Harding appointed Taft as Chief Justice, a position he held until a month before his death.
William Howard Taft was born September 15, 1857, in Cincinnati, Ohio. After becoming a lawyer, Taft was appointed a judge while still in his twenties. He continued a rapid rise, being named Solicitor General and a judge of the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals. In 1904, Roosevelt made him Secretary of War, and he became Roosevelt’s hand-picked successor. After being elected president in 1909, however, progressives soon found abundant reason to be disappointed with Taft. Much to the surprise of Roosevelt and many Republicans, Taft as president aligned himself with the more conservative members in the Republican Party which caused a rift in the party eventually leading to the split in Republican ranks in 1912. He passed away on March 8, 1930.
1 Too many people don’t care what happens so long as it doesn’t happen to them. -William Howard Taft
A lot of people in the world have lost their sense of empathy. They do not care about atrocities unless it has come right up to their doorsteps to affect them.
2 Don’t write so that you can be understood, write so that you can’t be misunderstood. -William Howard Taft
Write and express your feelings and emotions. Write it so people do not misunderstand you and your actions.
3 We can’t have a decent government unless those in power exercise self-restraint. -William Howard Taft
Unless and until those at the top, with authority and power, restrain themselves and keep themselves in check, a decent government is not possible. They will just abuse the power vested upon them.
4 Enthusiasm for a cause sometimes warps judgment. -William Howard Taft
Being too passionate about something often clouds your judgment. You may not be able to perceive the reality of the situation and you shall end up making mistakes. So make sure you maintain a clear head and do not lose sight of what you are working for.
5 No tendency is quite so strong in human nature as the desire to lay down rules of conduct for other people. -William Howard Taft
The human tendency to control others’ lives is unimaginably strong. It is in our nature to do things that will make us feel superior and dictating other people’s lives gives us this sense of fulfillment.
6 If they will play fair I will play fair, but if they won’t then I reserve all my rights to do anything I find myself able to do. -William Howard Taft
Refrain from indulging in subterfuge. Try your best to play by the rules without cheating. But if your opponents start breaking the rules, then it is up to you to do your best to defeat them and show them their place.
7 The world is not going to be saved by legislation. -William Howard Taft
The world cannot be saved by just making laws. They need to be enforced and followed. Unless people do their best to follow these rules and abide by them, the world will forever be engulfed in violence and chaos.
8 Presidents come and go, but the Supreme Court goes on forever. -William Howard Taft
The legislature and the judiciary have to be disparate. No matter how many presidents come and go, they cannot be allowed to influence the judiciary. The integrity of the judiciary has to be protected at all costs.
9 We are all imperfect. We can not expect a perfect government. -William Howard Taft
People are inherently imperfect. They have their own flaws. So a government formed by such imperfect people will naturally be imperfect.
10 As the Republican platforms say, the welfare of the farmer is vital to that of the whole country. -William Howard Taft
The farmers are the backbone of any nation as they feed the people. And hence, their welfare should be of prime importance to any government.
11 Anti-Semitism is a noxious weed that should be cut out, it has no place in America. -William Howard Taft
Racism and prejudice are not just harmful to the social fabric of a nation but is also detrimental to its progress. It cannot be entertained in any way in a nation that dreams of progress and glory.
12 Failure to accord credit to anyone for what he may have done is a great weakness in any man. -William Howard Taft
Any person who does not give due credit for the work that someone else has done is weak from within. His ego does not let him acknowledge the hard work that someone else has done.
13 A government is for the benefit of all the people. -William Howard Taft
A government is chosen with the aim to work towards the prosperity and betterment of all the people. It’s not just the select few who sit at the top that should be protected and benefited. A government’s first priority should always be the common people.
Top 13 William Howard Taft Quotes Of All Time!
1. Too many people don’t care what happens so long as it doesn’t happen to them. -William Howard Taft
2. Don’t write so that you can be understood, write so that you can’t be misunderstood. -William Howard Taft
3. We can’t have a decent government unless those in power exercise self-restraint. -William Howard Taft
4. Enthusiasm for a cause sometimes warps judgment. -William Howard Taft
5. No tendency is quite so strong in human nature as the desire to lay down rules of conduct for other people. -William Howard Taft
6. If they will play fair I will play fair, but if they won’t then I reserve all my rights to do anything I find myself able to do. -William Howard Taft
7. The world is not going to be saved by legislation. -William Howard Taft
8. Presidents come and go, but the Supreme Court goes on forever. -William Howard Taft
9. We are all imperfect. We can not expect a perfect government. -William Howard Taft
10. As the Republican platforms say, the welfare of the farmer is vital to that of the whole country. -William Howard Taft
11. Anti-Semitism is a noxious weed that should be cut out, it has no place in America. -William Howard Taft
12. Failure to accord credit to anyone for what he may have done is a great weakness in any man. -William Howard Taft
13. A government is for the benefit of all the people. -William Howard Taft
