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John F Kennedy Quotes

100 Most Powerful Quotes By John F Kennedy That Will Give You Some Serious Life Goals

Famous As: 35th President of the United States (1961 - 1963)

Born On: May 29, 1917

Died On: November 22, 1963

Born In: Brookline, Massachusetts, United States

Founder / Co Founder: US-Israeli military alliance

Died At Age: 46

Kennedy’s quote to his countrymen, ‘It is not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country’ tells a lot about his greatness as a leader and President. John F Kennedy was the youngest man to be elected as the President of the United States of America. Ironically, he was the youngest President to die as well. Barely 1000 days old as the President of USA, Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, Texas. His assassination turned him into a larger than life heroic figure as he became one of the best loved Presidents of America. Though Kennedy served as the President for barely two years, his presidency marked a period of optimism in American politics. He captured the imagination of the Americans; introduce a spark that inspired a new generation of Americans to believe in themselves and made it clear that the era of 1960s would be that of change, of progression and of scientific and technological advancement. His highly charismatic appearance, energetic being and adept mannerism made him so famous that even after death; he still ruled the minds and hearts of every American. His words synced in the ears and his quotes have been used time and again to define some serious life goals. Explore these quotes by John F Kennedy that give a new perspective and a new outlook to life.

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Leaders

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.

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.
John F Kennedy

Forgive your enemies, but never forget their names.

Forgive your enemies, but never forget their names.
Never
John F Kennedy

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

The rights of every man are diminished when the rights of one man are threatened.
John F Kennedy

Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.

Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.
You
John F Kennedy

We must find time to stop and thank the people who make a difference in our lives.

We must find time to stop and thank the people who make a difference in our lives.
Time
John F Kennedy

Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable.

Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable." [Remarks on the first anniversary of the Alliance for Progress, 13 March 1962]
Will
John F Kennedy

Conformity is the jailer of freedom and the enemy of growth.

Conformity is the jailer of freedom and the enemy of growth.
John F Kennedy

As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.

[Thanksgiving Day Proclamation, 1963]

As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them. [Thanksgiving Day Proclamation, 1963]
Never
John F Kennedy

Victory has a hundred fathers and defeat is an orphan.

[News conference, April 21 1961]

Victory has a hundred fathers and defeat is an orphan. [News conference, April 21 1961]
John F Kennedy

Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other.

[Undelivered remarks for Dallas Trade Mart, November 22 1963]

Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other. [Undelivered remarks for Dallas Trade Mart, November 22 1963]
Learning
John F Kennedy

We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard.

[Address at Rice University, September 12 1962]

We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard. [Address at Rice University, September 12 1962]
John F Kennedy

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

[Inaugural Address, January 20 1961]

If a free society cannot help the many who are poor, it cannot save the few who are rich. [Inaugural Address, January 20 1961]
John F Kennedy

Libraries should be open to all - except the censor.

[Response to questionnaire in Saturday Review, October 29 1960]

Libraries should be open to all - except the censor. [Response to questionnaire in Saturday Review, October 29 1960]
John F Kennedy

A man may die, nations may rise and fall, but an idea lives on. Ideas have endurance without death.

A man may die, nations may rise and fall, but an idea lives on. Ideas have endurance without death.
Death
John F Kennedy

One person can make a difference, and everyone should try.

One person can make a difference, and everyone should try.
John F Kennedy

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

[Quoting Reverend Phillips Brooks, during Remarks at Presidential Prayer Breakfast, February 7 1963]

Do not pray for easy lives. Pray to be stronger men. [Quoting Reverend Phillips Brooks, during Remarks at Presidential Prayer Breakfast, February 7 1963]
John F Kennedy

If we cannot end now our differences, at least we can help make the world safe for diversity.

[Commencement Address at American University, June 10 1963]

If we cannot end now our differences, at least we can help make the world safe for diversity. [Commencement Address at American University, June 10 1963]
John F Kennedy

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

Liberty without Learning is always in peril and Learning without Liberty is always in vain.
Learning
John F Kennedy

Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or the present are certain to miss the future.

[Address in the Assembly Hall at the Paulskirche in Frankfurt, June 26 1963]

Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or the present are certain to miss the future. [Address in the Assembly Hall at the Paulskirche in Frankfurt, June 26 1963]
Life Change Past
John F Kennedy

Let us never negotiate out of fear. But let us never fear to negotiate.

[Inaugural Address, January 20 1961]

Let us never negotiate out of fear. But let us never fear to negotiate. [Inaugural Address, January 20 1961]
Never Fear
John F Kennedy

Mankind must put an end to war - or war will put an end to mankind.

[Address before the United Nations, September 25 1961]

Mankind must put an end to war - or war will put an end to mankind. [Address before the United Nations, September 25 1961]
War Will
John F Kennedy

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.

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.
Future Past
John F Kennedy

The time to repair the roof is when the sun is shining.

[State of the Union Address January 11 1962]

The time to repair the roof is when the sun is shining. [State of the Union Address January 11 1962]
Time
John F Kennedy

We cannot negotiate with people who say what's mine is mine and what's yours is negotiable.

We cannot negotiate with people who say what's mine is mine and what's yours is negotiable." [ The Berlin Crisis: Radio and Television Address to the American People (The White House, July 25, 1961)]
John F Kennedy

I'm an idealist without illusions.

[Ca. 1953, attributed to John F. Kennedy by Arthur Schlesinger, Jr. in 'A Thousand Days'

I'm an idealist without illusions. [Ca. 1953, attributed to John F. Kennedy by Arthur Schlesinger, Jr. in 'A Thousand Days'
John F Kennedy

Art is the great democrat, calling forth creative genius from every sector of society, disregarding race or religion or wealth or color

Art is the great democrat, calling forth creative genius from every sector of society, disregarding race or religion or wealth or color
Art
John F Kennedy

Without debate, without criticism no administration and no country can succeed and no republic can survive.

Without debate, without criticism no administration and no country can succeed and no republic can survive.
John F 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.

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.
John F Kennedy

We need men who can dream of things that never were.

We need men who can dream of things that never were.
Never Need
John F Kennedy

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 futures, and we are all mortal.

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 futures, and we are all mortal.
John F Kennedy