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John F. Kennedy

John F. Kennedy Quotes

35th U.S. President

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Famous John F. Kennedy Quotes

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

“My fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.”

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

“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.”

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

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

“When written in Chinese, the word 'crisis' is composed of two characters. One represents danger and the other represents opportunity.”

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

“Effort and courage are not enough without purpose and direction.”

“Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other.”

“The human mind is our fundamental resource.”

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

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

“The true democracy, living and growing and inspiring, puts its faith in the people - faith that the people will not simply elect men who will represent their views ably and faithfully, but will also elect men who will exercise their conscientious judgment - faith that the people will not condemn those whose devotion to principle leads them to unpopular courses, but will reward courage, respect honor, and ultimately recognize right.”

“There is always inequity in life. Some men are killed in war and some men are wounded; some men never leave the country, some men are stationed in the Antarctic and some are stationed in San Francisco. It's very hard in military or in personal life to assure complete equality. Life is unfair.”

“For I can assure you that we love our country, not for what it was, though it has always been great - not for what it is, though of this we are deeply proud - but for what it someday can, and, through the efforts of us all, someday will be.”