Quotes by John F. Kennedy

"When power leads man toward arrogance, poetry reminds him of his limitations. When power narrows the areas of man's concern, poetry reminds him of the richness and diversity of his existence. When power corrupts, poetry cleanses."

"Washington was a city of Southern efficiency and Northern charm."

"Never before has man had such capacity to control his own environment, to end thirst and hunger, to conquer poverty and disease, to banish illiteracy and massive human misery. We have the power to make this the best generation of mankind in the history of the world or to make it the last."

"All of us do not have equal talent, but all of us should have an equal opportunity to develop our talents."

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

"… conformity is the jailer of freedom and the enemy of growth."

"Man is still the most extraordinary computer of all."

"Civility is not a sign of weakness, and sincerity is always subject to proof."

"Tolerance implies no lack of commitment to one's own beliefs. Rather it condemns the oppression or persecution of others."

"There are risks and costs to action. But they are far less than the long range risks of comfortable inaction."

"We are tied to the ocean. And when we go back to the sea, whether it is to sail or to watch - we are going back from whence we came."

"A man may die, nations may rise and fall, but an idea lives on."

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

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

"In a very real sense, it will not be one man going to the moon it will be an entire nation. For all of us must work to put him there."

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

"The basic problems facing the world today are not susceptible to a military solution."

"War will exist until that distant day when the conscientious objector enjoys the same reputation and prestige that the warrior does today."

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

"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."