John F. Kennedy, (1917-1963) 35th US President Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Comment on this quote Share via Email Print this Page [1-30] of 40 John F. Kennedy quotesJohn F. Kennedy QuotesJohn F. Kennedy Next 30 quotes I am certain that after the dust of centuries has passed over our cities, we, too, will be remembered not for victories or defeats in battle or in politics but for our contributions to the human spirit.~ John F. Kennedy If we cannot end our differences, at least we can help make the world safe for diversity.~ John F. Kennedy Let us not seek the Republican answer or the Democratic answer, but the right answer. Let us not seek to fix the blame for the past. Let us accept our own responsibility for the future.~ John F. Kennedy The quality of American life must keep pace with the quantity of American goods. This country cannot afford to be materially rich and spiritually poor.~ John F. Kennedy The unity of freedom has never relied on uniformity of opinion.~ John F. Kennedy Tolerance implies no lack of commitment to one’s own beliefs. Rather it condemns the oppression or persecution of others.~ John F. Kennedy We must use time as a tool, not as a crutch.~ John F. Kennedy There is little value in insuring the survival of our nation if our traditions do not survive with it. And there is very grave danger that an announced need for increased security will be seized upon by those anxious to expand its meaning to the very limits of official censorship and concealment.~ John F. Kennedy 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.~ John F. Kennedy The wave of the future is not the conquest of the world by a single dogmatic creed but the liberation of the diverse energies of free nations and free men.~ John F. Kennedy A tax cut means higher family income and higher business profits and a balanced federal budget.... As the national income grows, the federal government will ultimately end up with more revenues. Prosperity is the real way to balance our budget. By lowering tax rates, by increasing jobs and income, we can expand tax revenues and finally bring our budget into balance.~ John F. Kennedy Liberty without learning is always in peril and learning without liberty is always in vain.~ John F. Kennedy Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable.~ John F. Kennedy 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.~ John F. Kennedy Every time that we try to lift a problem from our own shoulders, and shift that problem to the hands of the government, to the same extent we are sacrificing the liberties of our people.~ John F. Kennedy Liberty without learning is always in peril and learning without liberty is always in vain.~ John F. Kennedy The high office of the President has been used to foment a plot to destroy the American's freedom and before I leave office, I must inform the citizen of this plight.~ John F. Kennedy We are not afraid to entrust the American people with unpleasant facts, foreign ideas, alien philosophies, and competitive values. For a nation that is afraid to let its people judge the truth and falsehood in an open market is a nation that is afraid of its people.~ John F. Kennedy ... By calling attention to a well-regulated militia for the security of the Nation, and the right of each citizen to keep and bear arms, our founding fathers recognized the essentially civilian nature of our economy. Although it is extremely unlikely that the fear of governmental tyranny, which gave rise to the 2nd amendment, will ever be a major danger to our Nation, the amendment still remains an important declaration of our basic military-civilian relationship, in which every citizen must be ready to participate in the defense of his country. For that reason I believe the 2nd Amendment will always be important.~ John F. Kennedy 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.~ John F. Kennedy 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.~ John F. Kennedy Conformity is the jailer of freedom and the enemy of growth.~ John F. Kennedy I believe in an America where the separation of church and state is absolute -- where no Catholic prelate would tell the president (should he be Catholic) how to act, and no Protestant minister would tell his parishoners for whom to vote -- where no church or church school is granted any public funds or political preference -- and where no man is denied public office merely because his religion differs from the president who might appoint him or the people who might elect him.~ John F. Kennedy Our practical choice is not between a tax-cut deficit and a budgetary surplus. It is between two kinds of deficits: a chronic deficit of inertia, as the unwanted result of inadequate revenues and a restricted economy; or a temporary deficit of transition, resulting from a tax cut designed to boost the economy, increase tax revenues, and achieve -- and I believe this can be done -- a budget surplus. The first type of deficit is a sign of waste and weakness; the second reflects an investment in the future.~ John F. Kennedy The wave of the future is not the conquest of the world by a single dogmatic creed but the liberation of the diverse energies of free nations and free men.~ John F. Kennedy 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.~ John F. Kennedy But peace does not rest in the charters and covenants alone. It lies in the hearts and minds of all people. So let us not rest all our hopes on parchment and on paper, let us strive to build peace, a desire for peace, a willingness to work for peace in the hearts and minds of all of our people. I believe that we can. I believe the problems of human destiny are not beyond the reach of human beings.~ John F. Kennedy Forgive your enemies, but never forget their names.~ John F. Kennedy Forgive, but never forget.~ John F. Kennedy If a free society cannot help the many who are poor, it cannot save the few who are rich.~ John F. Kennedy Next 30 quotes Share on Facebook Tweet Email Print