Quotes By John F. Kennedy

The ignorance of one voter in a democracy impairs the security of all.

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.

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.

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

We have the power to make this the best generation of mankind in the history of the world or to make it the last.

The pay is good and I can walk to work.

The tax on capital gains directly affects investment decisions, the mobility and flow of risk capital... the ease or difficulty experienced by new ventures in obtaining capital, and thereby the strength and potential for growth in the economy.

Mothers all want their sons to grow up to be president, but they don't want them to become politicians in the process.

Mankind must put an end to war before war puts an end to mankind.

I think 'Hail to the Chief' has a nice ring to it.

Efforts and courage are not enough without purpose and direction.

Our most basic common link is that we all inhabit this planet. We all breathe the same air. We all cherish our children's future. And we are all mortal.

Those who dare to fail miserably can achieve greatly.

Unconditional war can no longer lead to unconditional victory. It can no longer serve to settle disputes... can no longer be of concern to great powers alone.

History is a relentless master. It has no present, only the past rushing into the future. To try to hold fast is to be swept aside.

Washington is a city of Southern efficiency and Northern charm.

The very word 'secrecy' is repugnant in a free and open society; and we are as a people inherently and historically opposed to secret societies, to secret oaths, and to secret proceedings.

Physical fitness is not only one of the most important keys to a healthy body, it is the basis of dynamic and creative intellectual activity.

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

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

My brother Bob doesn't want to be in government - he promised Dad he'd go straight.

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

All free men, wherever they may live, are citizens of Berlin. And therefore, as a free man, I take pride in the words "Ich bin ein Berliner!"

The world knows that America will never start a war. This generation of Americans has had enough of war and hate... we want to build a world of peace where the weak are secure and the strong are just.

We cannot expect that all nations will adopt like systems, for conformity is the jailer of freedom and the enemy of growth.

I just received the following wire from my generous Daddy; Dear Jack, Don't buy a single vote more than is necessary. I'll be damned if I'm going to pay for a landslide.

For time and the world do not stand still. Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or the present are certain to miss the future.

The human mind is our fundamental resource.

Do you realize the responsibility I carry? I'm the only person standing between Richard Nixon and the White House.

A nation which has forgotten the quality of courage which in the past has been brought to public life is not as likely to insist upon or regard that quality in its chosen leaders today - and in fact we have forgotten.