àPresident John Fitzgerald Kennedy on WhiteHouse.com
“A man does what he must—in spite of personal consequences, in spite of obstacles and dangers—and this is the basis of all human morality.”
“And so my fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country. My fellow citizens of the world, ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man.”
—From “Inaugural Address”
“Forgive your enemies, but remember their names.”
“Henry, the Secret Service told me they had taken care of everything. There’s nothing to worry about.”
—To Congressman Henry González on the plane to Dallas
“If a free society cannot help the many who are poor, it cannot save the few who are rich.”
—From “Inaugural Address”
“If we cannot end our differences, at least we can help make the world safe for diversity.”
"In the long history of the world, only a few generations have been granted the role of defending freedom in its hour of maximum danger. I do not shrink from this responsibility—I welcome it."
—From “Inaugural Address”
"Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, to assure the survival and success of liberty."
—From “Inaugural Address”
“…The notion that this Nation is headed for defeat though deficit, or that strength is but a matter of slogans, is nothing but just plain nonsense.”
—From remarks prepared for delivery at the Trade Mart in Dallas, never delivered
“This Nation was founded by men of many nations and backgrounds. It was founded on the principle that all men are created equal, and that the rights of every man are diminished when the rights of one man are threatened.”
—From a radio and television report to the American people on civil rights
"Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable."
“United, there is little we cannot do in a host of cooperative ventures; divided, there is little we can do.”
—From “Inaugural Address”
“We must know all the facts and hear all the alternatives and listen to all the criticisms. Let us welcome controversial books and controversial authors. For the Bill of Rights is the guardian of our security as well as our liberty.”
—From a response to a questionnaire
“We must never forget that art is not a form of propaganda; it is a form of truth.”
“We need men who can dream of things that never were.”
—From “Speech in Dublin, Ireland”
“When we got into office, the thing that surprised me most was to find that things were just as bad as we'd been saying they were.”
“With a good conscience our only sure reward, with history the final judge of our deeds, let us go forth to lead the land we love, asking His blessing and His help, but knowing that here on earth God’s work must truly be our own.”
—From “Inaugural Address”
“Without belittling the courage with which men have died, we should not forget those acts of courage with which men…have lived. The courage of life is often a less dramatic spectacle than the courage of a final moment; but it is no less a magnificent mixture of triumph and tragedy. 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…. In whatever arena of life one may meet the challenge of courage, whatever may be the sacrifices he faces if he follows his conscience—the loss of his friends, his fortune, his contentment, even the esteem of his fellow men—each man must decide for himself the course he will follow. The stories of past courage can define that ingredient—they can teach, they can offer hope, they can provide inspiration. But they cannot supply courage itself. For this each man must look into his own soul.”
“You never know what’s hit you. A gunshot is the perfect way.”
—When asked how he would choose to die
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