Quotessence
Home / Authors / John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy

John F. Kennedy Quotes

35th U.S. President

Filter quotes by topic

AllMenNationsIfsPresidentialWorldPeopleWarStatesInspirationalPresidentCountryPeaceUnitedAmericaPoliticalGovernmentPoliticsMayShouldUnited States

Famous John F. Kennedy Quotes

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

InspirationalCountryStatesPoliticalAsksPoliticsPeacePresidentCan DoInspiringResponsibilityHistoryPoliticianSpeechFellowsPresidentialPatriotismPatrioticAmerican HistoryPatriotUnited States Of AmericaPersonal ResponsibilityUsefulnessMemorial DayAmerican CitizensIndependence DayGood CitizenElection DayInaugurationInspirational MilitaryAmerican PatrioticInauguralUs PresidentGreat PatrioticInaugural AddressAmerican PatriotismAmerican PatriotGreat PresidentsMemorial Day PoemsIndependence Day PatrioticPatriotism And NationalismPatriotism In AmericaMemorial Day RemembranceAmerican FreedomHappy Independence Day UsaHonoring Veterans Memorial DayHappy Memorial DayInspirational PatrioticHappy Independence DayHonoring Memorial DayMemorial Day HeroesInaugural SpeechIndia Independence DayUs PresidentialIndian Independence DayInspirational PresidentialGreat Memorial DayGood CitizenshipProfiles In CourageMemorial Day MessagesMilitary MemorialMemorial WeekendMemorial Day Thank YouMemorial Day WeekendIndian PatrioticMemorial Day SoldiersMost Patriotic
Author:John F. Kennedy
Create image

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

InspirationalWarGovernmentPoliticalPoliticsPeacePresidentFreedomLibertyStruggleViolenceImpossibleRevolutionWise WordsPoliticianViolentResistancePeacefulInevitablePresidentialRevolutionaryThoughtfulProtestRebellionFreedom And LibertyFreedom LibertyProperty RightsAmerican RevolutionMaking PeacePeace WarPeace And JusticeCoexistenceIndustrial RevolutionPeace JusticeMilitarismMake Peace Not WarRevolutionary WarAchieving PeaceActs Of ViolencePeaceful CoexistenceSocial RevolutionBreaking SilenceViolence And PeacePeaceful ProtestViolence And WarChange Is InevitablePolitical RevolutionGovernment And PoliticsPolitical StruggleGovernment PoliticsProfiles In CouragePolitical ViolencePeaceful RevolutionViolent RevolutionInevitable DeathRevolutionary LeadersPeaceful Country
Author:John F. Kennedy
Create image

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

InspirationalNationsGrowthPresidentFreedomLibertyEnemyGrowingPoliticianIndependenceIndividualityObediencePresidentialBeing YourselfConformityConventionsConform4th Of JulyFreedom Of ChoiceNonconformityComplianceBusiness GrowthPresidents DayGreat PresidentsPrice Of FreedomChange And GrowthJailerIntellectual FreedomNigeria IndependenceThinking Of YourselfConformity And IndividualityInspirational PresidentialProfiles In CourageChange GrowthInspiring PresidentialThinking About YourselfGrowing Business
Author:John F. Kennedy
Create image

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

InspirationalEnoughPurposePresidentLeadershipEffortCourageSuccessfulBasketballCoachesPresidentialCoachingSuccessful PeopleGreat LeaderHave CourageBasketball CoachingSuccessful BusinessBusiness LeadersBe CourageousMotivational BasketballMotivational SuccessBest EffortBasketball MotivationGreat LeadershipBasketball TeamFear And CourageLeadership By Great LeadersCoaches MotivationalInspirational CourageGoals And ObjectivesCoaches And PlayersYour Purpose In LifeMotivational CoachingWords Of CourageInspirational AchievementSuccessful LeadersMotivational AchievementInspiring PresidentialWise LeadersLife DirectionShort CourageGrace Under PressureFunny CourageHope CouragePurpose And Direction
Author:John F. Kennedy
Create image

“Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other.”

InspirationalLeadershipLeaderVisionLearningPoliticianEducationalPresidentialLeadership DevelopmentIndispensableGreat LeaderInsperationalLeadership TrainingPolitical LeadersWorld LeaderBusiness LeadershipTrue LeaderLive And LearnBeing A LeaderInspiring LeaderEffective LeadershipGreat LeadershipLeadership By Famous LeadersBest LeaderLeadership And ManagementGreat TeamTrue LeadershipLife LearningMotivational LeadershipLeadership SkillsDefinition Of LeadershipGood LeadershipLeadership By Great LeadersGreatest LeadershipFuture LeadersYou Live And You LearnOutstanding LeadershipPowerful LeadersTop ManagementTraining And EducationOutstanding LeadersLeadership TeamworkMilitary LeadershipPolitical LeadershipVisionary LeadersTeam LeadershipLearning Something NewStrategic LeadershipLeadership In EducationVisionary LeadershipTeachabilityParticipative LeadershipHumility LeadershipTeam LeaderBecoming A LeaderHumility And LeadershipLeadership And ServiceGreatness And LeadershipEducational LeadersLeadership StyleOpinion Leaders
Author:John F. Kennedy
Create image

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

MenLifeInspirationalStrongEasyPresidentPrayerStrengthPrayingPoliticianWeaknessTasksEncouragementStrongerPresidentialStay StrongBeing StrongToughnessLife Is HardStrong ManPrayer LifeIntercessionStrength And WeaknessAnswers To PrayerAnswered PrayersStrong WillStrength Of WillGod PrayerCourage StrengthEasy LifeNot StrongI Am StrongPrayers Not Being AnsweredJust Stay StrongInspirational ServiceLife Is ToughYour StrongInspirational StrengthLife Is Not EasyBest PrayerStrength WeaknessSaying A PrayerEasy TasksProfiles In CourageStrong MotivationalBe Strong And CourageousStrong LifeBeing Strong In Life
Author:John F. Kennedy
Create image

“What really counts is not the immediate act of courage or of valor, but those who bear the struggle day in and day out - not the sunshine patriots but those who are willing to stand for a long period of time.”

LongCourageStruggleWillingBearsPeriodsPresidentialSunshinePatriotValorLong Periods Of TimeActs Of Courage
Book:Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: John F. Kennedy, 1962
Create image

“We set sail on this new sea because there is new knowledge to be gained, and new rights to be won, and they must be won and used for the progress of all people. For space science, like nuclear science and technology, has no conscience of its own. Whether it will become a force for good or ill depends on man, and only if the United States occupies a position of preeminence can we help decide whether this new ocean will be a sea of peace or a new terrifying theater of war.”

PeopleIfsMenWarStatesHelpingScienceUsedForceSpaceUnitedKnowledgeTechnologyUnited StatesRightsProgressSeaPositionDependsOceanConscienceTheaterIllNuclearPresidentialSailScience And TechnologyNew KnowledgeOcean SeaKnowledge GainedSpace Science
Author:John F. Kennedy
Create image

“There is a connection, hard to explain logically but easy to feel, between achievement in public life and progress in the arts. The age of Pericles was also the age of Phidias. The age of Lorenzo de Medici was also the age of Leonardo da Vinci. The age of Elizabeth was also the age of Shakespeare. And the New Frontier for which I campaign in public life, can also be a New Frontier for American art.”

FeelsArtHardAgeEasyProgressAchievementConnectionsCampaignsPresidentialFrontiersPublic LifeLeonardoNew FrontiersPublic ArtPhidias
Author:John F. Kennedy
Create image

“Too often in the past, we have thought of the artist as an idler and dilettante and of the lover of arts as somehow sissy and effete. We have done both an injustice. The life of the artist is, in relation to his work, stern and lonely. He has labored hard, often amid deprivation, to perfect his skill. He has turned aside from quick success in order to strip his vision of everything secondary or cheapening. His working life is marked by intense application and intense discipline.”

ArtHardDonePastLife IsArtistOrderPerfectVisionLoversDisciplineSkillsLonelyRelationInjusticeIntensePresidentialApplicationDeprivationWorking LifeSissyIdlersDilettantes
Book:Creative America
Create image

“There are indications because of new inventions, that 10, 15, or 20 nations will have a nuclear capacity, including Red China, by the end of the Presidential office in 1964. This is extremely serious. I think the fate not only of our own civilization, but I think the fate of world and the future of the human race, is involved in preventing a nuclear war.”

ThinkingWorldHumansWarEndsNationsRaceFateSeriousInvolvedCivilizationOfficeRedCapacityIncludingChinaNuclearInventionPresidentialHuman RaceIndicationPreventingNuclear WarNew Inventions
Author:John F. Kennedy
Create image

“We must formulate, with both imagination and restraint, a new approach to the Middle East - not pressing our case so hard that the Arabs feel their neutrality and nationalism are threatened ... while at the same time trying to hasten the inevitable Arab acceptance of the permanence of Israel ... We must ... seek a permanent settlement among Arabs and Israelis based not on an armed truce but on mutual self-interest.”

FeelsTryingSelfHardInterestImaginationCasesMiddleAcceptanceApproachIsraelEastInevitablePermanentPresidentialNationalismMutualMiddle EastRestraintThreatenedSelf InterestSettlementPermanenceNeutralityTruceNew Approach
Author:John F. Kennedy
Create image

“Nearly forty years ago, a distinguished Prime Minister of this country ... said, 'They may not be angels but they are at least our friends.'* I must say that I do not think that we probably demonstrated in that forty years that we are angels yet, but I hope we have demonstrated that we are at least friends.”

ThinkingYearsMaySaidCountryAngelYears AgoMinistersPresidentialFortyPrimePrime MinisterDistinguished
Book:Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: John F. Kennedy, 1961
Create image

“We do not seek the unanimity that comes to those who water down all issues to the lowest common denominator - or to those who conceal their differences behind fixed smiles - or to those who measure unity by standards of popularity and affection, instead of trust and respect. We are allies. This is a partnership, not an empire. We are bound to have differences and disappointments - and we are equally bound to bring them out into the open, to settle them where they can be settled, and to respect each other's views when they cannot be settled.”

WaterDifferencesViewsCommonBehindsIssuesStandardsUnityBoundsAffectionDisappointmentPresidentialSettlingFixedEmpiresAlliesPartnershipPopularityLowestCommon DenominatorTrust And RespectUnanimityLowest Common DenominatorRespect Each Other
Author:John F. Kennedy
Create image

“With all of the history of war, and the human race's history unfortunately has been a good deal more war than peace, with nuclear weapons distributed all through the world, and available, and the strong reluctance of any people to accept defeat, I see the possibility in the 1970's of the President of the United States having to face a world in which 15 or 20 or 25 nations may have these weapons.”

PeopleWorldHumansMayHas BeensWarStatesFacesStrongNationsPresidentUnitedDealsRaceAcceptingUnited StatesPossibilityWeaponsDefeatAvailableNuclearPresidentialHuman RaceNuclear WeaponsReluctance
Book:Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: John F. Kennedy, 1963
Create image

“The success of this Government, and thus the success of our Nation, depends in the last analysis upon the quality.of our career services. The legislation enacted by the Congress, as well as the decisions made by me and by the department and agency heads, must all be implemented by the career men and women in the Federal service. In foreign affairs, national defense, science and technology, and a host of other fields, they face problems of unprecedented importance and perplexity. We are all dependent on their sense of loyalty and responsibility as well as their competence and energy.”

MenWellsMadeProblemGovernmentLastsFacesEnergyNationsDecisionQualityResponsibilityCareersTechnologyFieldsDependsMen And WomenImportanceAffairCongressDefenseLoyaltyPresidentialAnalysisAgencyDepartmentDependentHostLegislationCompetenceUnprecedentedScience And TechnologyDecisions MadeNational DefensePerplexityForeign Affairs
Author:John F. Kennedy
Create image