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

“The effort to improve the conditions of man, however, is not a task for the few. It is the task of all nations-acting alone, acting in groups, acting in the United Nations, for plague and pestilence, plunder and pollution, the hazards of nature and the hunger of children are the foes of every nation. The earth, the sea and the air are the concern of every nation. And science, technology and education can be the ally of every nation.”

MenChildrenEarthNationsUnitedEffortActingTechnologyGroupsAirSeaConditionsConcernTasksEnvironmentalHungerAlliesPollutionUnited NationsFoePlagueHazardsPlunderPestilenceScience TechnologyTechnology And Education
Author:John F. Kennedy
Create image

“President Roosevelt and President Truman and President Eisenhower had the same experience, they all made the effort to get along with the Russians. But every time, finally it failed. And the reason it failed was because the Communists are determined to destroy us, and regardless of what hand of friendship we may hold out or what arguments we may put up, the only thing that will make that decisive difference is the strength of the United States.”

MayMadeStatesReasonHandsPresidentDifferencesUnitedEffortUnited StatesArgumentDeterminedCommunistTrumanPresident RooseveltPresident EisenhowerPresident Truman
Author:John F. Kennedy
Create image

“And lastly, Chairman Khrushchev has compared the United States to a worn-out runner living on its past performance, and stated that the Soviet Union would out-produce the United States by 1970. Without wishing to trade hyperbole with the Chairman, I do suggest that he reminds me of the tiger hunter who has picked a place on the wall to hang the tiger's skin long before he his caught the tiger. This tiger has other ideas.”

LongIdeasStatesPastWishUnitedUnited StatesProduceWallSkinsPerformancesTradeUnionsCaughtSovietWornRunnersTigersHuntersSoviet UnionChairmanLiving OnWorn OutHyperbole
Author:John F. Kennedy
Create image

“No man who enters upon the office to which I have succeeded can fail to recognize how every president of the United States has placed special reliance upon his faith in God. Every president has taken comfort and courage when toldthat the Lord 'will be with thee. He will not fail thee nor forsake thee. Fear not-neither be thou dismayed.' Each of our presidents in his own way has placed a special trust in God. Those who were strongest intellectually were also strongest spiritually.”

MenWayStatesPresidentUnitedLordUnited StatesTakenFailingSpecialComfortOfficeTheeStrongestTrust In GodFaith In GodRelianceFear NotForsakeDismayed
Author:John F. Kennedy
Create image

“The United States, as the world knows, will never start a war. We do not want a war. We do not now expect a war. This generation of Americans has already had enough - more than enough - of war and hate and oppression. We shall be prepared if others wish it. We shall be alert to try to stop it. But we shall also do our part to build a world of peace where the weak are safe and the strong are just. We are not helpless before that task or hopeless of its success. Confident and unafraid, we labor on - not toward a strategy of annihilation but toward a strategy of peace.”

IfsKnowsWorldWantTryingWarStatesEnoughHateStrongWishUnitedUnited StatesGenerationsSafeLaborTasksWeakStrategyPreparedOppressionHopelessHelplessBe PreparedHad EnoughAnnihilationThis GenerationUnafraid
Author:John F. Kennedy
Create image

“I can imagine no more rewarding a career. And any man who may be asked in this century what he did to make his life worthwhile, I think can respond with a good deal of pride and satisfaction: 'I served in the United States Navy.”

ThinkingMenMayI CanStatesPresidentUnitedDealsCareersUnited StatesImagineCenturyMilitaryPrideSatisfactionWorthwhileNavyNavalSubmarinesGreat MilitaryUnited States MilitaryNew FrontiersServing In The MilitaryUnited States Navy
Book:Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: John F. Kennedy, 1963
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

“In those countries where income taxes are lower than in the United States, the ability to defer the payment of U.S. tax by retaining income in the subsidiary companies provides a tax advantage for companies operating through overseas subsidiaries that is not available to companies operating solely in the United States. Many American investors properly made use of this deferral in the conduct of their foreign investment.”

MadeCountryStatesUseAbilityUnitedCompanyUnited StatesTaxesAdvantageInvestmentAvailableIncomeInvestorsPaymentIncome TaxRetaining
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 green beret' is again becoming a symbol of excellence, a badge of courage, a mark of distinction in the fight for freedom. I know the United States Army will live up to its reputation for imagination, resourcefulness, and spirit as we meet this challenge.”

KnowsStatesSpiritFightingImaginationChallengesUnitedUnited StatesBecomingMarkArmyGreenExcellenceReputationSymbolsPresidentialDistinctionBadgesResourcefulnessFighting For FreedomUnited States ArmyGreen Beret
Author:John F. Kennedy
Create image

“When I ran for Presidency of the United States, I knew that this country faced serious challenges, but I could not realize - nor could any man realize who does not bear the burdens of this office - how heavy and constant would be those burdens”

MenDoeCountryStatesWould BeRealizingChallengesUnitedUnited StatesSeriousBearsOfficeConstantBurdenHeavyPresidentialRanPresidency
Book:Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: John F. Kennedy, 1961
Create image

“Harry Truman once said, 'There are 14 or 15 million Americans who have the resources to have representatives in Washington to protect their interests, and that the interests of the great mass of the other people - the 150 or 160 million - is the responsibility of the president of the United States, and I propose to fulfill it.'”

PeopleSaidStatesPresidentInterestUnitedResponsibilityMillionsUnited StatesProtectMassResourcesPresidentialRepresentativesProposeTrumanHarry Truman
Author:John F. Kennedy
Create image

“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 Sates and those who depend upon it.”

PeopleMenDecisionUnitedSecurityCollegeDependsBearsJudgmentMen And WomenResponsibleUniversityProsperityBurdenEducatedPresidentialCitizenshipEducated ManColleges And Universities
Book:Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: John F. Kennedy, 1963
Create image

“I ask particularly that those of you who are now in school will prepare yourselves to bear the burden of leadership over the next 40 years here in the United States, and make sure that the United States - which I believe almost alone has maintained watch and ward for freedom - that the United States meet its responsibility. That is a wonderful challenge for us as a people.”

PeopleYearsBelieveStatesSchoolNextAsksI BelieveChallengesUnitedResponsibilityWatchesUnited StatesWonderfulBearsBurdenPresidential
Author:John F. Kennedy
Create image

“The Kennedy Administration's public pronouncements on the matter suggested that the presence of Soviet nuclear missiles in Castro's Cuba would represent an unacceptable strategic threat to the United States. . . . This urgent transformation of Cuba into an important strategic base - by the presence of these large, long-range, and clearly offensive weapons of sudden mass-destruction - constitutes an explicit threat to the peace and security of all the Americas. . . .”

LongImportantMatterStatesAmericaUnitedUnited StatesSecurityWeaponsMassDestructionTransformationThreatNuclearAdministrationRangeSovietOffensiveUrgentStrategicCubaMissilesMass DestructionExplicitCastroPeace And SecurityNuclear Missiles
Author:John F. Kennedy
Create image

“To that world assembly of sovereign states, the United Nations, our last best hope in an age where the instruments of war have far outpaced the instruments of peace, we renew our pledge of support - to prevent it from becoming merely a forum for invective - to strengthen its shield of the new and the weak - and to enlarge the area in which its writ may run.”

WorldMayWarStatesRunningAgeLastsNationsUnitedSupportBecomingAreasWeakInstrumentsSovereignUnited NationsShieldsPledgeAssemblyNew World OrderHoping For The BestForums
Author:John F. Kennedy
Create image

“In addition, the United States Delegation will suggest a series of steps to improve the United Nations machinery for the peaceful settlement of disputes... - for extending the rule of international law. For peace is not solely a matter of military or technical problems - it is primarily a problem of politics and people.”

PeopleWorldMatterStatesProblemLawNationsUnitedStepsUnited StatesMilitarySeriesInternationalPeacefulUnited NationsDisputesMachineryNew World OrderSettlementExtendingInternational LawDelegation
Author:John F. Kennedy
Create image

“Some of my colleagues who are criticized today for lack of forthright principles-or who are looked upon with scorn as compromising "politicians"-are simply engaged in the fine art of conciliating, balancing and interpreting the forces and factions of public opinion, an art essential to keeping our nation united and enabling our Government to function.”

ArtGovernmentTodayForceNationsUnitedOpinionPrinciplesFinePoliticianEssentialsFunctionCompromiseEngagedColleaguesPublic OpinionScornFine ArtsEnablingFactionsInterpreting
Author:John F. Kennedy
Create image

“Few nations do more than the United States to assist their least fortunate citizens-to make certain that no child, no elderly or handicapped citizen, no family in any circumstances in any State, is left without the essential needs for a decent and healthy existence. In too few nations, I might add, are the people aware of the progressive strides this country has taken in demonstrating the humanitarian side of freedom. Our record is a proud one-and it sharply refutes those who accuse us of thinking only in the materialistic terms of cash registers and calculating machines.”

PeopleThinkingNeedsChildrenCountryStatesMightCertainLeftNationsSidesTermUnitedExistenceUnited StatesTakenRecordsProudCitizensCircumstancesHealthyEssentialsMachinesAddHumanitarianFortunateDecentProgressiveCashElderlyRegisterMaterialisticStrideDemonstratingCalculatingHandicapped
Author:John F. Kennedy
Create image