John F. Kennedy, the 35th President of the United States, left an indelible mark on the American consciousness and the world with his vision, eloquence, and charismatic leadership during a pivotal moment in history.
His presidency, though tragically cut short, was marked by moments that challenged and inspired a nation to look beyond itself — to aim for the moon, to ask not what their country could do for them but what they could do for their country, and to seek peace and progress in equal measure.
Kennedy’s speeches and writings are filled with wisdom on leadership, courage, and the importance of international cooperation. His quotes resonate as much today as they did over half a century ago, reflecting a timeless perspective on democracy, freedom, and the responsibilities of citizens and their governments. They serve as reminders of the potential for politics to be a noble calling and for leaders to inspire action toward a common good.
In this article, we’ve curated a collection of John F. Kennedy’s most memorable quotes. Whether you’re a student of history, a political enthusiast, or someone seeking inspiration, Kennedy’s quotes provide a compelling glimpse into the ideals and aspirations that defined his presidency.
The Best Quotes from President John F. Kennedy
Famous Quotes
“Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.”
— John F. Kennedy
“Every accomplishment starts with the decision to try.”
— John F. Kennedy
“Children are the world’s most valuable resource and its best hope for the future.”
— John F. Kennedy
“Let us not emphasize all on which we differ but all we have in common. Let us consider not what we fear separately but what we share together.”
— John F. Kennedy
“One person can make a difference, and everyone should try.”
— John F. Kennedy
“The supreme reality of our time is the vulnerability of our planet.”
— John F. Kennedy
“If freedom is to survive and prosper, it will require the sacrifice, the effort and the thoughtful attention of every citizen.”
— John F. Kennedy
“Those who dare to fail miserably can achieve greatly.”
— John F. Kennedy
“A man may die, nations may rise and fall, but an idea lives on. Ideas have endurance without death.”
— 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 find time to stop and thank the people who make a difference in our lives.”
— John F. Kennedy
Inspirational Quotes
“Let us not seek to fix the blame for the past, let us accept our own responsibility for the future.”
— John F. Kennedy
“As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest form of appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.”
— John F. Kennedy
“Peace is a daily, a weekly, a monthly process, gradually changing opinions, slowly eroding old barriers, quietly building new structures. And however undramatic the pursuit of peace, that pursuit must go on.”
— John F. Kennedy
“The stories of past courage… 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.”
— John F. Kennedy
“Not every child has an equal talent or an equal ability or equal motivation, but they should have the equal right to develop their talent and their ability and their motivation, to make something of themselves.”
— John F. Kennedy
“The problems of the world cannot possibly be solved by skeptics or cynics whose horizons are limited by the obvious realities. We need men who can dream of things that never were.”
— John F. Kennedy
“Do not pray for easy lives, pray to be stronger men.”
— John F. Kennedy
“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 morality.”
— John F. Kennedy, Profiles in Courage
“If a free society cannot help the many who are poor, it cannot save the few who are rich.”
— John F. Kennedy
“Just because we cannot see clearly the end of the road, that is no reason for not setting out on the essential journey.”
— John F. Kennedy
On Democracy
“The ignorance of one voter in a democracy impairs the security of all.”
— John F. Kennedy
“For in a democracy, every citizen, regardless of his interest in politics, ‘hold office’; every one of us is in a position of responsibility; and, in the final analysis, the kind of government we get depends upon how we fulfill those responsibilities. We, the people, are the boss, and we will get the kind of political leadership, be it good or bad, that we demand and deserve.”
— John F. Kennedy
“When power leads man toward arrogance, poetry reminds him of his limitations. When power narrows the area of man’s concern, poetry reminds him of the richness and diversity of existence. When power corrupts, poetry cleanses.”
— John F. Kennedy
“Freedom is not merely a word or an abstract theory, but the most effective instrument for advancing the welfare of man.”
— John F. Kennedy
“We must face the fact that the United States is neither omnipotent nor omniscient, that we cannot impose our will upon the other 94 percent of mankind, that we cannot right every wrong or reverse every adversity, and that therefore there cannot be an American solution to every world problem.”
— John F. Kennedy
“Art is the great democrat, calling forth creative genius from every sector of society, disregarding race or religion or wealth or color”
— John F. Kennedy
“The rights of every man are diminished when the rights of one man are threatened.”
— John F. Kennedy
On Leadership
“Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other.”
— John F. Kennedy
“Increased responsibility goes with increased ability, for of those to whom much is given, much is required.”
— John F. Kennedy
“We sometimes chafe at the burden of our obligations, the complexity of our decisions, the agony of our choices. But there is no comfort or security for us in evasion, no solution in abdication, no relief in irresponsibility.”
— John F. Kennedy
“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.”
— John F. Kennedy
“For courage — not complacency — is our need today. Leadership — not salesmanship. And the only valid test of leadership is the ability to lead, and lead vigorously.”
— John F. Kennedy
On Change
“We have the power to make this the best generation of mankind in the history of the world or make it the last.”
— John F. Kennedy
“There are costs and risks to a program of action, but they are far less than the long range risks and costs of comfortable inaction.”
— John F. Kennedy
“I really don’t know why it is that all of us are so committed to the sea, except I think it’s because in addition to the fact that the sea changes, and the light changes, and ships change, it’s because we all came from the sea. And it is an interesting biological fact that all of us have in our veins the exact same percentage of salt in our blood that exists in the ocean, and, therefore, we have salt in our blood, in our sweat, in our tears. We are tied to the ocean. And when we go back to the sea — whether it is to sail or to watch it — we are going back from whence we came.”
— John F. Kennedy
“And our liberty, too, is endangered if we pause for the passing moment, if we rest on our achievements, if we resist the pace of progress. 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.”
— John F. Kennedy
“We are not here to curse the darkness, but to light a candle that can guide us through the darkness to a safe and sure future. For the world is changing. The old era is ending. The old ways will not do.”
— John F. Kennedy
“The one unchangeable certainty is that nothing is certain or unchangeable.”
— John F. Kennedy
→ Read more quotes about change
→ Read more quotes about making a difference
Short Quotes
“If not us, who? If not now, when?”
— John F. Kennedy
“We must never forget that art is not a form of propaganda; it is a form of truth.”
— John F. Kennedy
“The time to repair the roof is when the sun is shining.”
— John F. Kennedy
“Forgive your enemies, but never forget their names.”
— John F. Kennedy
“The human mind is our fundamental resource.”
— John F. Kennedy
“Things do not happen. Things are made to happen.”
— John F. Kennedy
“Conformity is the jailer of freedom and the enemy of growth.”
— John F. Kennedy
“Too often we enjoy the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought.”
— John F. Kennedy
“Man is still the most extraordinary computer of all.”
— John F. Kennedy
→ Explore more short quotes
More JFK Quotes
“Life is never easy. There is work to be done and obligations to be met — obligations to truth, to justice, and to liberty.”
— John F. Kennedy
“For one true measure of a nation is its success in fulfilling the promise of a better life for each of its members. Let this be the measure of our nation.”
— John F. Kennedy
“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 contribution to the human spirit.”
— John F. Kennedy
“Civility is not a sign of weakness, and sincerity is always subject to proof. Let us never negotiate out of fear. But let us never fear to negotiate.”
— John F. Kennedy
“And is not peace, in the last analysis, basically a matter of human rights — the right to live out our lives without fear of devastation — the right to breathe air as nature provided it — the right of future generations to a healthy existence?”
— John F. Kennedy
“...what does truth require? It requires us to face the facts as they are, not to involve ourselves in self-deception; to refuse to think merely in slogans. If we are to work for the future of the city, let us deal with the realities as they actually are, not as they might have been, and not as we wish they were.”
— John F. Kennedy
“So, let us not be blind to our differences — but let us also direct attention to our common interests and to the means by which those differences can be resolved. And if we cannot end now our differences, at least we can help make the world safe for diversity. For, in the final analysis, our most basic common link is that we all inhabit this small planet. We all breathe the same air. We all cherish our children’s future. And we are all mortal.”
— John F. Kennedy
“Our problems are man-made, therefore they may be solved by man. And man can be as big as he wants. No problem of human destiny is beyond human beings.”
— John F. Kennedy
“Immigration policy should be generous; it should be fair; it should be flexible. With such a policy we can turn to the world, and to our own past, with clean hands and a clear conscience.”
— John F. Kennedy, A Nation of Immigrants
“Let both sides seek to invoke the wonders of science instead of its terrors. Together let us explore the stars, conquer the deserts, eradicate disease, tap the ocean depths, and encourage the arts and commerce.”
— John F. Kennedy
“Liberty without learning is always in peril and learning without liberty is always in vain.”
— John F. Kennedy
