About John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy (May 29, 1917 – November 22, 1963), often referred to as JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his tragic assassination in 1963. Known for his charisma, eloquence, and progressive vision, Kennedy inspired a generation with his call to action: “Ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country.” His presidency was marked by significant events, including the Cuban Missile Crisis, the establishment of the Peace Corps, and his strong advocacy for civil rights and space exploration. Kennedy remains a symbol of youthful idealism and hope for a better future.
516 Powerful John F. Kennedy Quotes to Inspire You
Here are 516 Powerful quotes by John F. Kennedy on various topics to inspire you.
2. “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.”
John F. Kennedy
Political Responsibility, Leadership Burdens, National Challenges, Leadership, Responsibility, Burden
4. “Too often in the past, we have thought of the artist as an idler and dilettante and of the lover of arts as somehow sissy and effete. We have done both an injustice. The life of the artist is, in relation to his work, stern and lonely. He has labored hard, often amid deprivation, to perfect his skill. He has turned aside from quick success in order to strip his vision of everything secondary or cheapening. His working life is marked by intense application and intense discipline.”
John F. Kennedy Artistic Struggle, Cultural Injustice, Creative Work, Artist, Discipline, Struggle
5. “Let us not despair but act. 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 Political Responsibility, National Action, Collective Responsibility, Action, Responsibility, Politics
9. “Our goal is not the victory of might but the vindication of right...not peace at the expense of freedom, but both peace and freedom, here in this hemisphere, and, we hope, around the world. God willing, that goal will be achieved.”
John F. Kennedy Peace and Freedom, National Morality, Global Security, Peace, Freedom, Morality
10. “But I think the American people expect more from us than cries of indignation and attack. The times are too grave, the challenge too urgent, and the stakes too high to permit the customary passions of political debate. We are not here to curse the darkness, but to light the candle that can guide us through that darkness to a safe and sane future.”
John F. Kennedy Political Leadership, Public Responsibility, National Unity, Leadership, Responsibility, Future
12. “My fellow Americans, let us take that first step. Let us...step back from the shadow of war and seek out the way of peace. And if that journey is a thousand miles, or even more, let history record that we, in this land, at this time, took the first step.”
John F. Kennedy Peace Movement, Political Change, Historical Progress, Peace, History, Leadership
13. “The life of the arts, far from being an interruption, a distraction, in the life of a nation, is very close to the center of a nation's purpose...and is a test of the quality of a nation's civilization.”
John F. Kennedy Cultural Importance, National Identity, Artistic Value, Arts, Culture, Civilization
14. “Our deep spiritual confidence that this nation will survive the perils of today — which may well be with us for decades to come — compels us to invest in our nation's future, to consider and meet our obligations to our children and the numberless generations that will follow.”
John F. Kennedy National Hope, Future Generations, National Survival, Hope, Generations, Future
15. “I have pledged myself and my colleagues in the cabinet to a continuous encouragement of initiative, responsibility and energy in serving the public interest. Let every public servant know, whether his post is high or low, that a man's rank and reputation in this Administration will be determined by the size of the job he does, and not by the size of his staff, his office or his budget.”
John F. Kennedy Public Responsibility, Government Service, Leadership Quality, Service, Leadership, Initiative
16. “That is the question of the New Frontier. That is the choice our nation must make—a choice that lies not merely between two men or two parties, but between the public interest and private comfort—between national greatness and national decline—between the fresh air of progress and the stale, dank atmosphere of "normalcy"—between determined dedication and creeping mediocrity. All mankind waits upon our decision. A whole world looks to see what we will do. We cannot fail their trust, we cannot fail to try.”
John F. Kennedy National Purpose, Public Duty, Political Choice, Progress, Dedication, Leadership
26. “The American presidency will demand more than ringing manifestos issued from the rear of the battle. It will demand that the President place himself in the very thick of the fight; that he care passionately about the fate of the people he leads.”
John F. Kennedy Presidential leadership, Political responsibility, Public service, Leadership qualities, Civic duty, Passionate leadership
29. “Our goal is not victory of might but the vindication of right – not peace at the expense of freedom, but both peace and freedom, here in this hemisphere and, we hope, around the world. God willing, that goal will be achieved.”
John F. Kennedy Peace, Freedom, Justice, Global aspirations, National goals, Moral vision
30. “To further the appreciation of culture among all the people, to increase respect for the creative individual, to widen participation by all the processes and fulfillments of art this is one of the fascinating challenges of these days.”
John F. Kennedy Culture, Art, Creativity, Appreciation, Participation, Social challenges
