56 Inspirational John F. Kennedy Quotes (35th President of the United States)

Last updated on April 4, 2023

John F. Kennedy (born 29 May 1917, Brookline, Massachusetts, United States – died 22 November 1963, Parkland Health, Dallas, Texas, United States) was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963. He was the youngest man ever elected to the office, and was assassinated while riding in a motorcade in Dallas.

Top 15 Most Inspiring John F. Kennedy Quotes

If not us, who? If not now, when? ― John F. Kennedy — If not us, who? If not now, when?

Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future. ― John F. Kennedy — Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future.

Forgive your enemies, but never forget their names. ― John F. Kennedy — Forgive your enemies, but never forget their names.

Let us think of education as the means of developing our greatest abilities, because in each of us there is a private hope or dream which, fulfilled, can be translated into benefit for everyone and greater strength for our Nation. ― John F. Kennedy — Let us think of education as the means of developing our greatest abilities, because in each of us there is a private hope or dream which, fulfilled, can be translated into benefit for everyone and greater strength for our Nation.

Victory has a thousand fathers, but defeat is an orphan. ― John F. Kennedy — Victory has a thousand fathers, but defeat is an orphan.

There are risks and costs to action. But they are far less than the long-range risks of comfortable inaction. ― John F. Kennedy — There are risks and costs to action. But they are far less than the long-range risks of comfortable inaction.

Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country. ― John F. Kennedy — Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.

Efforts and courage are not enough without purpose and direction. ― John F. Kennedy — Efforts and courage are not enough without purpose and direction.

Children are the world’s most valuable resource and its best hope for the future. ― John F. Kennedy — Children are the world’s most valuable resource and its best hope for the future.

Every accomplishment starts with the decision to try. ― John F. Kennedy — Every accomplishment starts with the decision to try.

Our progress as a nation can be no swifter than our progress in education. ― John F. Kennedy — Our progress as a nation can be no swifter than our progress in education.

The goal of education is the advancement of knowledge and the dissemination of truth. ― John F. Kennedy — The goal of education is the advancement of knowledge and the dissemination of truth.

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 — 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.

Things do not happen. Things are made to happen. ― John F. Kennedy — Things do not happen. Things are made to happen.

Conformity is the jailer of freedom and the enemy of growth. ― John F. Kennedy — Conformity is the jailer of freedom and the enemy of growth.

12 Motivational John F. Kennedy Quotes to Achieve Success (LEADERSHIP)

Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other. ― John F. Kennedy — Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other.

The Chinese use two brush strokes to write the word ‘crisis.’ One brush stroke stands for danger; the other for opportunity. In a crisis, be aware of the danger–but recognize the opportunity. ― John F. Kennedy — The Chinese use two brush strokes to write the word ‘crisis.’ One brush stroke stands for danger; the other for opportunity. In a crisis, be aware of the danger–but recognize the opportunity.

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

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 — Life is never easy. There is work to be done and obligations to be met—obligations to truth, to justice, and to liberty.

It is time for a new generation of leadership, to cope with new problems and new opportunities. For there is a new world to be won. ― John F. Kennedy — It is time for a new generation of leadership, to cope with new problems and new opportunities. For there is a new world to be won.

We must use time as a tool, not as a couch. ― John F. Kennedy — We must use time as a tool, not as a couch.

Leadership and learning are indispensable to one another. ― John F. Kennedy — Leadership and learning are indispensable to one another.

The time to repair the roof is when the sun is shining. ― John F. Kennedy — The time to repair the roof is when the sun is shining.

Do not pray for easy lives, pray to be stronger men. ― John F. Kennedy — Do not pray for easy lives, pray to be stronger men.

Those who dare to fail miserably can achieve greatly. ― John F. Kennedy — Those who dare to fail miserably can achieve greatly.

Too often we enjoy the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought. ― John F. Kennedy — Too often we enjoy the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought.

We must find time to stop and thank the people who make a difference in our lives. ― John F. Kennedy — We must find time to stop and thank the people who make a difference in our lives.

The 30 Best John F. Kennedy (JFK) Quotes on Freedom, America, Democracy, Courage, and Education

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 — 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.

Our problems are man-made; therefore, they may be solved by man. No problem of human destiny is beyond human beings. ― John F. Kennedy — Our problems are man-made; therefore, they may be solved by man. No problem of human destiny is beyond human beings.

The greater our knowledge increases the more our ignorance unfolds. ― John F. Kennedy — The greater our knowledge increases the more our ignorance unfolds.

A man may die, nations may rise and fall, but an idea lives on. ― John F. Kennedy — A man may die, nations may rise and fall, but an idea lives on.

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

The ignorance of one voter in a democracy impairs the security of all. ― John F. Kennedy — The ignorance of one voter in a democracy impairs the security of all.

Mankind must put an end to war before war puts an end to mankind. ― John F. Kennedy — Mankind must put an end to war before war puts an end to mankind.

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. ― John F. Kennedy — 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.

Mothers all want their sons to grow up to be president, but they don’t want them to become politicians in the process. ― John F. Kennedy — Mothers all want their sons to grow up to be president, but they don’t want them to become politicians in the process.

The rights of every man are diminished when the rights of one man are threatened. ― John F. Kennedy — The rights of every man are diminished when the rights of one man are threatened.

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 — 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.

A child miseducated is a child lost. ― John F. Kennedy — A child miseducated is a child lost.

If we cannot end now our differences, at least we can help make the world safe for diversity. ― John F. Kennedy — If we cannot end now our differences, at least we can help make the world safe for diversity.

Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable. ― John F. Kennedy — Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable.

Liberty without Learning is always in peril and Learning without Liberty is always in vain. ― John F. Kennedy — Liberty without Learning is always in peril and Learning without Liberty is always in vain.

The cost of freedom is always high, but Americans have always paid it. And one path we shall never choose, and that is the path of surrender, or submission. ― John F. Kennedy — The cost of freedom is always high, but Americans have always paid it. And one path we shall never choose, and that is the path of surrender, or submission.

If a free society cannot help the many who are poor, it cannot save the few who are rich. ― John F. Kennedy — If a free society cannot help the many who are poor, it cannot save the few who are rich.

Without debate, without criticism, no administration and no country can succeed, and no republic can survive. ― John F. Kennedy — Without debate, without criticism, no administration and no country can succeed, and no republic can survive.

This country cannot afford to be materially rich and spiritually poor. ― John F. Kennedy — This country cannot afford to be materially rich and spiritually poor.

Let us never negotiate out of fear. But let us never fear to negotiate. ― John F. Kennedy — Let us never negotiate out of fear. But let us never fear to negotiate.

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 — 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.

I look forward to an America which will not be afraid of grace and beauty. ― John F. Kennedy — I look forward to an America which will not be afraid of grace and beauty.

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

Man is still the most extraordinary computer of all. ― John F. Kennedy — Man is still the most extraordinary computer of all.

I would rather be accused of breaking precedents than breaking promises. ― John F. Kennedy — I would rather be accused of breaking precedents than breaking promises.

We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard. ― John F. Kennedy — We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard.

World peace, like community peace, does not require that each man love his neighbor – it requires only that they live together with mutual tolerance, submitting their disputes to a just and peaceful settlement. ― John F. Kennedy — World peace, like community peace, does not require that each man love his neighbor – it requires only that they live together with mutual tolerance, submitting their disputes to a just and peaceful settlement.

The unity of freedom has never relied on uniformity of opinion. ― John F. Kennedy — The unity of freedom has never relied on uniformity of opinion.

The one unchangeable certainty is that nothing is unchangeable or certain. ― John F. Kennedy — The one unchangeable certainty is that nothing is unchangeable or certain.