--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The real difficulty is with the vast…" description: "\"The real difficulty is with the vast wealth and power in the hands of the few and the unscrupulous who represent or control capital. Hundreds of laws o..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be2/rutherford-b-hayes-3486_congress_the-real-difficulty-is-with-the-vast-wea_1340384.jpg" --- # The real difficulty is with the vast wealth and power in… ![“The real difficulty is with the vast wealth and power in the hands of the few and the unscrupulous who represent or control capital. Hundreds of laws of Congress and the state legislatures are in the interest of these men and against the interests of workingmen. These need to be exposed and…” quote by Rutherford B. Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be2/rutherford-b-hayes-3486_congress_the-real-difficulty-is-with-the-vast-wea_1340384.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be2/rutherford-b-hayes-3486_congress_the-real-difficulty-is-with-the-vast-wea_1340384.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be2/rutherford-b-hayes-3486_congress_the-real-difficulty-is-with-the-vast-wea_1340384.jpg) > “The real difficulty is with the vast wealth and power in the hands of the few and the unscrupulous who represent or control capital. Hundreds of laws of Congress and the state legislatures are in the interest of these men and against the interests of workingmen. These need to be exposed and repealed. All laws on corporations, on taxation, on trusts, wills, descent, and the like, need examination and extensive change. This is a government of the people, by the people, and for the people no longer. It is a government of corporations, by corporations, and for corporations.” [Rutherford B. Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutherford-b-hayes/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Concentration of wealth and power in a few corrupt hands undermines democracy and harms workers; laws favor elites and must be reformed. **In simple terms:** Rich few control government, hurting the many. Key Takeaway Demand systemic reform of corporate influence. Themes democracy economic inequality political corruption corporate power Mood critical urgent Type political activist When to use this quote - policy advocacy - grassroots organizing - voter education - campaign finance reform Key Concepts wealth concentration legislative capture public interest social justice Questions to Reflect On - How can citizens effectively challenge corporate influence? - What reforms would most restore democratic control? A Different Perspective Reforming laws is complex and faces entrenched interests. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Congress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/congress/) [Corporations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/corporations/) [Descent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/descent/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Interest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interest/) [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Taxation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taxation/) [Wealth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wealth/) ## Related quotes > [It is a government of the people by the people for the people no longer it is a government of corporations by corporations for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutherford-b-hayes/it-is-a-government-of-the-people-by-the-people-for-the-people-no/) [Rutherford B. Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutherford-b-hayes/) > [It is a government by the corporations, for the corporations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutherford-b-hayes/it-is-a-government-by-the-corporations-for-the-corporations/) [Rutherford B. Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutherford-b-hayes/) > [There is nothing wrong with corporations. Corporations are a good thing. But corporations should not be running our government. Corporations are good because they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-f-kennedy-jr/there-is-nothing-wrong-with-corporations-corporations-are-a-good/) [Robert F. Kennedy, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-f-kennedy-jr/) > [Congress voted for tougher laws on corporations. So now when a corporation buys a senator, they need a receipt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/congress-voted-for-tougher-laws-on-corporations-so-now-when-a/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [Corporations are a good thing. 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Each of its institutions has been hollowed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/democracy-no-longer-means-what-it-was-meant-to-it-has-been-taken-back/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) > [The world is a nested space, and so we have our brain as a person, and people are members of teams, and teams are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-world-is-a-nested-space-and-so-we-have-our-brain-as-a-person-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [So, my job is to enforce the laws that Congress has written. 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Hayes > [Nothing brings out the lower traits of human nature like office-seeking. Men of good character and impulses are betrayed by it into all sorts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutherford-b-hayes/nothing-brings-out-the-lower-traits-of-human-nature-like-office/) [Rutherford B. Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutherford-b-hayes/) > [No person connected with me by blood or marriage will be appointed to office.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutherford-b-hayes/no-person-connected-with-me-by-blood-or-marriage-will-be-appointed-to/) [Rutherford B. Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutherford-b-hayes/) > [The President of the United States should strive to be always mindful of the fact that he serves his party best who serves his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutherford-b-hayes/the-president-of-the-united-states-should-strive-to-be-always-mindful/) [Rutherford B. Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutherford-b-hayes/) > [The gloomy theology of the orthodox--the Calvinists--I do not, I cannot believe. Many of the notions--nay, most of the notions--which orthodox people have of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutherford-b-hayes/the-gloomy-theology-of-the-orthodox-the-calvinists-i-do-not-i-cannot/) [Rutherford B. Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutherford-b-hayes/) > [Every age has its temptations, its weaknesses, its dangers. Ours is in the line of the snobbish and the sordid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutherford-b-hayes/every-age-has-its-temptations-its-weaknesses-its-dangers-ours-is-in/) [Rutherford B. 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Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutherford-b-hayes/) > [ My father and mother in 1817 were forty-nine days on the road with their emigrant wagons \[from Vermont\] to Ohio. More than two days… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutherford-b-hayes/my-father-and-mother-in-1817-were-forty-nine-days-on-the-road-with/) [Rutherford B. Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutherford-b-hayes/) > [Unjust attacks on public men do them more good than unmerited praise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutherford-b-hayes/unjust-attacks-on-public-men-do-them-more-good-than-unmerited-praise/) [Rutherford B. Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutherford-b-hayes/) > [Nobody ever left the presidency with less regret, less disappointment, fewer heart burnings, or any general content with the result of his term (in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutherford-b-hayes/nobody-ever-left-the-presidency-with-less-regret-less-disappointment/) [Rutherford B. 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Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutherford-b-hayes/) > [There is a great deal of strength in Garfield's life and struggles as a self-made man… From poverty and obscurity, by labor at all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutherford-b-hayes/there-is-a-great-deal-of-strength-in-garfield-s-life-and-struggles-as/) [Rutherford B. Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutherford-b-hayes/) [Explore all 129 Rutherford B. Hayes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutherford-b-hayes/) ## More Congress quotes > [Well, my wife, Cathy Gillespie, worked for Joe Barton, who was running for Congress in 1984.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-gillespie/well-my-wife-cathy-gillespie-worked-for-joe-barton-who-was-running/) [Ed Gillespie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-gillespie/) > [We will make sure our troops have all that is necessary to complete their missions. That's why I went to the Congress last September…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/we-will-make-sure-our-troops-have-all-that-is-necessary-to-complete/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [ I can't imagine that I would be asked that by the president-elect \[Donald Trump\], or then-president \[Barack Obama\]. 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It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-pitts/the-constitution-is-very-clear-on-the-on-the-declaration-of-war-or/) Joe Pitts > [Can you understand why the Congress, most states and most cities refuse to pass legislation requiring the registration and licensing of any and all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-forbes/can-you-understand-why-the-congress-most-states-and-most-cities/) [Malcolm Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-forbes/) > [“ Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/united-states-congress/congress-shall-make-no-law-respecting-an-establishment-of-religion-or/) United States Congress > [As the longest serving Independent in the history of the United States Congress, as somebody who came into office by defeating an incumbent Democratic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/as-the-longest-serving-independent-in-the-history-of-the-united/) [Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/) > [As the first Member of Congress from western Washington to serve on the House Agriculture Committee in over 50 years, I am proud to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-larsen/as-the-first-member-of-congress-from-western-washington-to-serve-on/) [Rick Larsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-larsen/) > [About one-half of the members of Congress are seekers for office at the nomination of the President. 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