John F. Kennedy Quotes on Leadership, Democracy, Freedom, Socialism, Change

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

“Victory has a hundred fathers, and defeat is an orphan.” —  John F. Kennedy

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

“One person can make a difference, and everyone should try.” —  John F. Kennedy

“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

“We must never forget that art is not a form of propaganda; it is a form of truth” —  John F. Kennedy

“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

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

“War will exist until that distant day when the conscientious objector enjoys the same reputation and prestige that the warrior does today.” —  John F. Kennedy

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

“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

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

“The great enemy of the truth is very often not the lie, deliberate, contrived and dishonest, but the myth, persistent, persuasive and unrealistic.” —  John F. Kennedy

“If art is to nourish the roots of our culture, society must set the artist free to follow his vision wherever it takes him.” —  John F. Kennedy

“Books and libraries and the will to use them are among the most important tools our nation has to diffuse knowledge and to develop our powers of creative wisdom.” —  John F. Kennedy

“I am sorry to say that there is too much point to the wisecrack that life is extinct on other planets because their scientists were more advanced than ours.” —  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.” —  John F. Kennedy

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

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

“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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“The greater our knowledge increases, the more our ignorance unfolds.” —  John F. Kennedy