Timely Quotes from John Fitzgerald Kennedy

November 22, 1963 changed the world by one tragic event in Dallas, Texas. We were left without the wisdom , leadership, and energy of John F. Kennedy, but he did leave us a vision and great ideas, encapsulated in these and other inspiring words:

“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 existence. When power corrupts, poetry cleanses.”

“The supreme reality of our time is the vulnerability of our planet.”

“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.”(At a White House dinner for Nobel Prize recipients)

“Great crises produce great men and great deeds of courage.”

“If a free society cannot help the many who are poor, it cannot save the few who are rich.”

“If freedom is to survive and prosper, it will require the sacrifice, the effort and the thoughtful attention of every citizen.”

“For in a democracy, every citizen, regardless of his interest in politics, ‘hold office’; every one of us is in a position of responsibility; and, in the final analysis, the kind of government we get depends upon how we fulfill those responsibilities. We, the people, are the boss, and we will get the kind of political leadership, be it good or bad, that we demand and deserve.”

“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.”

“Let us not emphasize all on which we differ but all we have in common. Let us consider not what we fear separately but what we share together.”

“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 to assure the survival and the success of liberty.”

“United there is little we cannot do in a host of cooperative ventures. Divided there is little we can do — for we dare not meet a powerful challenge at odds and split asunder.”

“So let us begin anew — remembering on both sides that civility is not a sign of weakness, and sincerity is always subject to proof. Let us never negotiate out of fear. But let us never fear to negotiate.”

“Let both sides seek to invoke the wonders of science instead of its terrors. Together let us explore the stars, conquer the deserts, eradicate disease, tap the ocean depths and encourage the arts and commerce.”

“If more politicians knew poetry, and more poets knew politics, I am convinced the world would be a little better place in which to live.”

“Children are the world’s most valuable resource and its best hope for the future.”

“For one true measure of a nation is its success in fulfilling the promise of a better life for each of its members. Let this be the measure of our nation.”

“Rising tide lifts all boats.”

To further the appreciation of culture among all the people, to increase respect for the creative individual, to widen participation by all the processes and fulfillments of art — this is one of the fascinating challenges of these days.”

“I look forward to an America which will not be afraid of grace and beauty…an America which will reward achievement in the arts as we reward achievement in business or statecraft.”

“We must never forget that art is not a form of propaganda; it is a form of truth.”

“It may be different elsewhere. But democratic society — in it, the highest duty of the writer, the composer, the artist is to remain true to himself and to let the chips fall where they may.”

“Our deep spiritual confidence that this nation will survive the perils of today — which may well be with us for decades to come — compels us to invest in our nation’s future, to consider and meet our obligations to our children and the numberless generations that will follow.”

Our goal is not the victory of might but the vindication of right…not peace at the expense of freedom, but both peace and freedom, here in this hemisphere, and, we hope, around the world. God willing, that goal will be achieved.”

“This country cannot afford to be materially rich and spiritually poor.”

“And if we cannot end now our differences, at least we can help make the world safe for diversity. For, in the final analysis, our most basic common link is that we all inhabit this small planet. We all breathe the same air. We all cherish our children’s future. And we are all mortal.”

“We celebrate the past to awaken the future.”

“A nation reveals itself not only by the men it produces but also by the men it honors, the men it remembers.”

“Let us not despair but act. Let us not seek the Republican answer or the Democratic answer but the right answer. Let us not seek to fix the blame for the past — let us accept our own responsibility for the future.”

“Dante once said that the hottest places in hell are reserved for those who in periods of moral crisis maintain their neutrality.”

“What we seek to advance, what we seek to develop in all of our colleges and universities, are educated men and women who can bear the burdens of responsible citizenship, who can make judgments about life as it is, and as it must be, and encourage the people to make those decisions which can bring not only prosperity and security, but happiness to the people of the United States and those who depend upon it.”

“The rights of every man are diminished when the rights of one man are threatened.”

“The great enemy of truth is very often not the lie — deliberate, contrived and dishonest — but the myth — persistent, persuasive and unrealistic. Too often we hold fast to the cliches of our forebears. We subject all facts to a prefabricated set of interpretations. We enjoy the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought.

“Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other.”

“Do not pray for easy lives. Pray to be stronger men.”

“Those who foolishly sought power by riding the back of the tiger ended up inside.”

“Liberty without Learning is always in peril and Learning without Liberty is always in vain.”

“The ignorance of one voter in a democracy impairs the security of all.”

“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.”

“I’m an idealist without illusions.”

“Those who dare to fail miserably can achieve greatly.”

“If not us, who? If not now, when?”