The great enemy of the truth is very often not the lie--deliberate, contrived and dishonest--but the myth--persistant, persuasive and unrealistic. John Fitzgerald Kennedy More Quotes by John Fitzgerald Kennedy More Quotes From John Fitzgerald Kennedy The human mind is our fundamental resource. John Fitzgerald Kennedy To state the facts frankly is not to despair the future nor indict the past. The prudent heir takes careful inventory of his legacies and gives a faithful accounting to those whom he owes an obligation of trust. John Fitzgerald Kennedy We would like to live as we once lived, but history will not permit it. John Fitzgerald Kennedy All free men, wherever they may live, are citizens of Berlin. And therefore, as a free man, I take pride in the words Ich bin ein Berliner John Fitzgerald Kennedy Let us welcome controversial books and controversial authors. John Fitzgerald Kennedy Leadership and learning are indispensible to each other. John Fitzgerald Kennedy Ask not what your country can do for you -- ask what you can do for your country. John Fitzgerald Kennedy Forgive your enemies, but never forget their names. John Fitzgerald Kennedy Let the word go forth from this time and place, to friend and foe alike, that the torch has been passed to a new generation of Americans, born in this century, tempered by war, disciplined by a hard and bitter peace, proud of our ancient heritage, and unwilling to witness or permit the slow undoing of those human rights to which this nation has always been committed, and to which we are committed today, at home and around the world John Fitzgerald Kennedy Our progress as a nation can be no swifter than our progress in education. John Fitzgerald Kennedy The time to reapir the roof is when the sun is shining. John Fitzgerald Kennedy There are three things which are real God, human folly, and laughter. The first two are beyond our comprehension. So we must do what we can with the third. John Fitzgerald Kennedy We dare not tempt them with weakness. For only when our arms are sufficient beyond doubt can we be certain beyond doubt that they will never be employed. John Fitzgerald Kennedy We have the power to make this the best generation of mankind in the history of the world - or to make it the last. John Fitzgerald 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 his existence. When power corrupts, poetry cleanses. John Fitzgerald Kennedy I think this is the most extraordinary collection of talent, of human knowledge, that has ever been gathered at the White House-with the possible exception of when Thomas Jefferson dined alone. John Fitzgerald Kennedy There are many people in the world who really don't understand-or say they don't-what is the great issue between the free world and the Communist world. ... Let them come to Berlin John Fitzgerald Kennedy When at some future date the high court of history sits in judgment on each one of us-recording whether in our brief span of service we fulfilled our responsibilities to the state-our success or failure, in whatever office we may hold, will be measured by the answers to four questions-were we truly men of courage ... were we truly men of judgment ... were we truly men of integrity ... were we truly men of dedication John Fitzgerald Kennedy And so, my fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you -- ask what you can do for your country. My fellow citizens of the world, ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man. John Fitzgerald Kennedy A rising tide lifts all boats. John Fitzgerald Kennedy
