Famous John Fitzgerald Kennedy Quotations

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"It is an unfortunate fact that we can secure peace only by preparing for war."
by John Fitzgerald Kennedy
"A child miseducated is a child lost."
by John Fitzgerald Kennedy
"The world is very different now. For man holds in his mortal hands the power to abolish all forms of human poverty, and all forms of human life."
by John Fitzgerald Kennedy
"Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violen trevolution inevitable."
by John Fitzgerald Kennedy
"We dare not tempt them with weakness. For only when our arms are sufficient beyond doubt can we be certain beyond doubt that they will never be employed."
by John Fitzgerald Kennedy
"We would like to live as we once lived, but history will not permit it."
by John Fitzgerald Kennedy
"History is a relentless master. It has no present, only the past rushing into the future. To try to hold fast is to be swept aside."
by John Fitzgerald Kennedy
"If we cannot now end our differences, at least we can help make the world safe for diversity."
by John Fitzgerald Kennedy
"If a free society cannot help the many who are poor, it cannot save the few who are rich."
by John Fitzgerald Kennedy
"Mothers all want their sons to grow up to be president, but they don't want them to become politicians in the process."
by John Fitzgerald Kennedy
"If art is to nourish the roots of our culture, society must set the artist free to follow his vision wherever it takes him."
by John Fitzgerald Kennedy
"Forgive your enemies, but never forget their names."
by John Fitzgerald Kennedy
"The goal of education is the advancement of knowledge and the dissemination of truth."
by John Fitzgerald Kennedy
"Mankind must put an end to War, or War will put an end to Mankind."
by John Fitzgerald Kennedy
"A man does what he must-in spite of personal consequences, in spite of obstacles and dangers and pressures-and that is the basis of all human morality."
by John Fitzgerald Kennedy
"A rising tide lifts all boats."
by John Fitzgerald Kennedy
"Above all, we are coming to understand that the arts incarnate the creativity of a free people. When the creative impulse cannot flourish, when it cannot freely select its methods and objects, when it is deprived of spontaneity, then society severs the root of art."
by John Fitzgerald Kennedy
"All free men, wherever they may live, are citizens of Berlin. And therefore, as a free man, I take pride in the words Ich bin ein Berliner"
by John Fitzgerald Kennedy
"All this will not be finished in the first hundred days. Nor will it be finished in the first thousand days, nor in the life of this administration, nor even perhaps in our lifetime on this planet. But let us begin."
by John Fitzgerald Kennedy
"And so, my fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you -- ask what you can do for your country. My fellow citizens of the world, ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man."
by John Fitzgerald Kennedy
"Ask not what your country can do for you ask what you can do for your country."
by John Fitzgerald Kennedy
"Geography has made us neighbors. History has made us friends. Economics has made us partners, and necessity has made us allies. Those whom God has so joined together, let no man put asunder. (To Canadian Parliament)"
by John Fitzgerald Kennedy
"I hope that no American ... will waste his franchise and throw away his vote by voting either for me or against me solely on account of my religious affiliation. It is not relevant."
by John Fitzgerald Kennedy
"I hear it said that West Berlin is militarily untenable-and so was Bastogne, and so, in fact, was Stalingrad. Any danger spot is tenable if men-brave men-will make it so."
by John Fitzgerald Kennedy
"I look forward to an America which will not be afraid of grace and beauty."
by John Fitzgerald Kennedy
"I think this is the most extraordinary collection of talent, of human knowledge, that has ever been gathered at the White House-with the possible exception of when Thomas Jefferson dined alone."
by John Fitzgerald Kennedy
"I want to emphasize in the great concentration which we now place upon scientists and engineers how much we still need the men and women educated in the liberal tradition, willing to take the long look, undisturbed by prejudices and slogans of the moment, who attempt to make an honest judgment on difficult events."
by John Fitzgerald Kennedy
"If I had to live my life over again, I would have a different father, a different wife and a different religion."
by John Fitzgerald Kennedy
"In the long history of the world, only a few generations have been granted the role of defending freedom in its hour of maximum danger. I do not shrink from this responsibility-I welcome it."
by John Fitzgerald Kennedy
"Irrational barriers and ancient prejudices fall quickly when the question of survival itself is at stake."
by John Fitzgerald Kennedy
"Leadership and learning are indispensible to each other."
by John Fitzgerald Kennedy
"Let the word go forth from this time and place, to friend and foe alike, that the torch has been passed to a new generation of Americans, born in this century, tempered by war, disciplined by a hard and bitter peace, proud of our ancient heritage, and unwilling to witness or permit the slow undoing of those human rights to which this nation has always been committed, and to which we are committed today, at home and around the world"
by John Fitzgerald Kennedy
"Let the word go forth from this time and place, to friend and foe alike, that the torch has been passed to a new generation of Americans born in this century, tempered by war, disciplined by a hard and bitter peace."
by John Fitzgerald Kennedy
"Let's not talk so much about vice. I'm against vice in all forms."
by John Fitzgerald Kennedy
"Let us welcome controversial books and controversial authors."
by John Fitzgerald Kennedy
"Let us resolve to be masters, not the victims, of our history, controlling our own destiny without giving way to blind suspicions and emotions."
by John Fitzgerald Kennedy
"Like dealing with Dad-all give and no take. (On negotiating with Soviet Premier Nikita S Khrushchev)"
by John Fitzgerald Kennedy
"Mankind must put an end to war, or war will put an end to mankind... War will exist until that distant day when the conscientious objector enjoys the same reputation and prestige that the warrior does today."
by John Fitzgerald Kennedy
"Modern cynics and skeptics ... see no harm in paying those to whom they entrust the minds of their children a smaller wage than is paid to those to whom they entrust the care of their plumbing."
by John Fitzgerald Kennedy
"My brother Bob doesn't want to be in government -- he promised Dad he'd go straight."
by John Fitzgerald Kennedy
"My imagination makes me human and makes me a fool it gives me all the world and exiles me from it."
by John Fitzgerald Kennedy
"My father always told me that all businessmen were sons of bitches, but I never believed it till now. (On steel industry executives who increased prices)"
by John Fitzgerald Kennedy
"Our progress as a nation can be no swifter than our progress in education. The human mind is our fundemental resource."
by John Fitzgerald Kennedy
"Our task is not to fix the blame for the past, but to fix the course for the future."
by John Fitzgerald Kennedy
"The courage of life is often a less dramatic spectacle than the courage of a final moment but it is no less than a magnificent mixture of triumph and tragedy."
by John Fitzgerald Kennedy
"The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, and spends himself in a worthy cause who at best, if he wins, knows the thrills of high achievement, and, if he fails, at least fails daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat."
by John Fitzgerald Kennedy
"The freedom of the city is not negotiable. We cannot negotiate with those who say, What's mine is mine and what's yours is negotiable."
by John Fitzgerald Kennedy
"The full use of your powers along lines of excellence. - definition of happiness by John F. Kennedy."
by John Fitzgerald Kennedy
"The great enemy of the truth is very often not the lie--deliberate, contrived and dishonest--but the myth--persistant, persuasive and unrealistic."
by John Fitzgerald Kennedy
"The new frontier of which I speak is not a set of promises-it is a set of challenges. It sums up not what I intend to offer the American people, but what I intend to ask of them. It appeals to their pride, not their pocketbook-it holds out the promise of more sacrifice instead of more security."
by John Fitzgerald Kennedy
"The path we have chosen for the present is full of hazards, as all paths are. ... The cost of freedom is always high, but Americans have always paid it. And one path we shall never choose, and that is the path of surrender, or submission. (Announcing blockade of Cuba)"
by John Fitzgerald Kennedy
"The time to reapir the roof is when the sun is shining."
by John Fitzgerald Kennedy
"There are many people in the world who really don't understand-or say they don't-what is the great issue between the free world and the Communist world. ... Let them come to Berlin"
by John Fitzgerald Kennedy
"There are three things which are real God, human folly, and laughter. The first two are beyond our comprehension. So we must do what we can with the third."
by John Fitzgerald Kennedy
"To exclude from positions of trust and command all those below the age of 44 would have kept Jefferson from writing the Declaration of Independence, Washington from commanding the Continental Army, Madison from fathering the Constitution, Hamilton from serving as secretary of the treasury, Clay from being elected speaker of the House and Christopher Columbus from discovering America."
by John Fitzgerald Kennedy
"To those people in the huts and villages of half the globe struggling to break the bonds of mass misery, we pledge our best efforts to help them help themselves, for whatever period is required, not because the Communists may be doing it, not because we seek their votes, but because it is right. If a free society cannot help the many who are poor, it cannot save the few who are rich."
by John Fitzgerald Kennedy
"Unconditional war can no longer lead to unconditional victory. It can no longer serve to settle disputes. It can no longer be of concern to great powers alone. For a nuclear disaster, spread by winds and waters and fear, could well engulf the great and the small, the rich and the poor, the committed and the uncommitted alike. Mankind must put an end to war, or war will put an end to mankind."
by John Fitzgerald Kennedy
"Washington D.C. is a city of Southern efficiency and Northern charm."
by John Fitzgerald Kennedy
"We stand today on the edge of a new frontier-the frontier of the 1960s-a frontier of unknown opportunities and perils-a frontier of unfulfilled hopes and threats."
by John Fitzgerald Kennedy
"When at some future date the high court of history sits in judgment on each one of us-recording whether in our brief span of service we fulfilled our responsibilities to the state-our success or failure, in whatever office we may hold, will be measured by the answers to four questions-were we truly men of courage ... were we truly men of judgment ... were we truly men of integrity ... were we truly men of dedication"
by John Fitzgerald Kennedy
"When asked about his favorite song, I think 'Hail to the Chief' has a nice ring to it."
by John Fitzgerald Kennedy
"When power leads man toward arrogance, poetry reminds him of his limitations. When power narrows the area of man's concern, poetry reminds him of the richness and diversity of his existence. When power corrupts, poetry cleanses."
by John Fitzgerald Kennedy
"When written in Chinese, the word 'crisis' is composed of two characters. One represents danger and the other represents opportunity."
by John Fitzgerald Kennedy
"You never know what's hit you. A gunshot is the perfect way. (When asked how he would choose to die)"
by John Fitzgerald Kennedy
"In free society art is not a weapon. Artists are not engineers of the soul."
by John Fitzgerald Kennedy
"I see little of more importance to the future of our country and of civilization than full recognition of the place of the artist. If art is to nourish the roots of our culture, society must set the artist free to follow his vision wherever it takes him."
by John Fitzgerald Kennedy
"You never know what's hit you. A gunshot is the perfect way."
by John Fitzgerald Kennedy
"We will neglect our cities to our peril, for in neglecting them we neglect the nation."
by John Fitzgerald Kennedy
"We want to be first; not first if, not first but; but first!"
by John Fitzgerald Kennedy
"The Chinese use two brush strokes to write the word ' crisis .' One brush stroke stands for danger; the other for opportunity. In a crisis, be aware of the danger - but recognize the opportunity."
by John Fitzgerald Kennedy
"A man does what he must -- in spite of personal consequences, in spite of obstacles and dangers -- and this is the basis of all human morality."
by John Fitzgerald Kennedy
"Our progress as a nation can be no swifter than our progress in education. Our requirements for world leadership, our hopes for economic growth, and the demands of citizenship itself in an era such as this all require the maximum development of every young American's capacity. The human mind is our fundamental resource."
by John Fitzgerald Kennedy
"I know there is a God--and I see a storm coming; if He has a place for me, I believe that I am ready."
by John Fitzgerald Kennedy
"The unity of freedom has never relied on uniformity of opinion."
by John Fitzgerald Kennedy
"True happiness is the full use of your powers along lines of excellence in a life affording scope."
by John Fitzgerald Kennedy
"I am certain that after the dust of centuries has passed over our cities, we, too, will be remembered not for victories or defeats in battle or in politics, but for our contribution to the human spirit."
by John Fitzgerald Kennedy
"A man may die, nations may rise and fall, but an idea lives on. Ideas have endurance without death."
by John Fitzgerald Kennedy
"It is time for a new generation of leadership, to cope with new problems and new opportunities. For there is a new world to be won."
by John Fitzgerald Kennedy
"Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, in order to assure the survival and the success of liberty."
by John Fitzgerald Kennedy
"There is a terrific disadvantage in not having the abrasive quality of the press applied to you daily. Even though we never like it, and even though we wish they didn't write it, and even though we disapprove, there isn't any doubt that we could not do the job at all in a free society without a very, very active press."
by John Fitzgerald Kennedy
"Written in Chinese, the word crisis, is composed of two characters. One represents danger and the other represent opportunity."
by John Fitzgerald Kennedy
"... ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country."
by John Fitzgerald Kennedy
"World peace, like community peace, does not require that each man love his neighbor -- it requires only that they live together with mutual tolerance, submitting their disputes to a just and peaceful settlement."
by John Fitzgerald Kennedy
"In the long history of the world, only a few generations have been granted the role of defending freedom in its hour of maximum danger. I do not shrink from this responsibility"
by John Fitzgerald Kennedy
"As far as the job of President goes, its rewarding and I've given before this group the definition of happiness for the Greeks. I'll define it again: the full use of your powers along lines of excellence. I find, therefore, that the Presidency provides some happiness."
by John Fitzgerald Kennedy
"The day before my inauguration President Eisenhower told me, You'll find that no easy problems ever come to the President of the United States. If they are easy to solve, somebody else has solved them. I found that hard to believe, but now I know it is true."
by John Fitzgerald Kennedy
"The energy, the faith, the devotion which we bring this endeavor will light our bounty and all who serve it, and the glow from that fire can truly light the world."
by John Fitzgerald Kennedy
"I think this is the most extraordinary collection of talent, of human knowledge, that has ever been gathered together at the White House, with the possible exception of when Thomas Jefferson dined alone."
by John Fitzgerald Kennedy
"The great enemy of the truth is very often not the lie--diliberate, contrived, and dishonest--but the myth--persistent, persuasive, and unrealistic."
by John Fitzgerald Kennedy
"You can milk a cow the wrong way once and still be a farmer, but vote the wrong way on a water tower and you can be in trouble."
by John Fitzgerald Kennedy
"There is no city in the United States in which I can get a warmer welcome and fewer votes than Columbia, Ohio."
by John Fitzgerald Kennedy
"The margin is narrow, but the responsibility is clear."
by John Fitzgerald Kennedy
"I have just received the following wire from my generous Daddy. It says, Dear Jack: Don't buy a single vote more than is necessary. I'll be damned if I am going to pay for a landslide."
by John Fitzgerald Kennedy
"Unconditional war can no longer lead to unconditional victory. It can no longer serve to settle disputes. It can no longer concern the Great Powers alone. For a nuclear disaster, spread by wind and water and fear, could well engulf the great and the small, the rich and the poor, the committed and the uncommitted alike. Mankind must put an end to war--or war will put an end to mankind."
by John Fitzgerald Kennedy
"This country cannot afford to be materially rich and spiritually poor."
by John Fitzgerald Kennedy
"Most of us are conditioned for many years to have a political veiwpoint—Republican or Democratic, liberal, conservative, or moderate. The fa..."
by John Fitzgerald Kennedy


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