John F. Kennedy, the 35th President of the United States, remains a beacon of hope, courage, and vision. His speeches and writings are filled with powerful Inspirational Quotes that motivate people to strive for greatness and embrace change. This article compiles 122 of his most memorable quotes, each offering insight, encouragement, and a call to action. Whether you seek motivation in leadership, perseverance, or hope, these quotes serve as a guide to living a purposeful life.
Explore this extensive collection and let the words of JFK inspire you to take bold steps forward.
122 Inspirational Quotes by John F. Kennedy to Drive Your Success
1. “Ask not what your country can do for you-ask what you can do for your country.”
2. “Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future.”
3. “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.”
4. “The rights of every man are diminished when the rights of one man are threatened.”
5. “Efforts and courage are not enough without purpose and direction.”
6. “Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other.”
7. “The greater our knowledge increases, the more our ignorance unfolds.”
8. “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.”
9. “A man may die, nations may rise and fall, but an idea lives on.”
10. “Conformity is the jailer of freedom and the enemy of growth.”
11. “If more politicians knew poetry, and more poets knew politics, I am convinced the world would be a little better place in which to live.”
12. “The time to repair the roof is when the sun is shining.”
13. “Tolerance implies no lack of commitment to one’s own beliefs. Rather it condemns the oppression or persecution of others.”
14. “The problems of the world cannot possibly be solved by skeptics or cynics whose horizons are limited by the obvious realities.”
15. “Victory has a thousand fathers, but defeat is an orphan.”
16. “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.”
17. “The goal of education is the advancement of knowledge and the dissemination of truth.”
18. “Peace is a daily, a weekly, a monthly process, gradually changing opinions, slowly eroding old barriers, quietly building new structures.”
19. “Children are the world’s most valuable resource and its best hope for the future.”
20. “We must use time as a tool, not as a couch.”
21. “A man does what he must-in spite of personal consequences, in spite of obstacles and dangers, and pressures-and that is the basis of all human morality.”
22. “If a free society cannot help the many who are poor, it cannot save the few who are rich.”
23. “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.”
24. “The future does not belong to those who are content with today.”
25. “We all breathe the same air. We all cherish our children’s future. And we are all mortal.”
26. “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.”
27. “The problems of the world cannot possibly be solved by skeptics or cynics whose horizons are limited by the obvious realities.”
28. “The greater our knowledge increases the more our ignorance unfolds.”
29. “The science of weapons and war has made us all one world and one human race with one common destiny.”
30. “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.”
31. “Those who dare to fail miserably can achieve greatly.”
32. “The American, by nature, is optimistic. He is experimental, an inventor and a builder who builds best when called upon to build greatly.”
33. “The eyes of the world now look into space, to the moon and to the planets beyond.”
34. “The supreme reality of our time is…our common vulnerability on this planet.”
35. “We depend upon science for prosperity for it supplies the new products and processes indispensable to our growing economy.”
36. “We choose to go to the moon not because it is easy, but because it is hard.”
37. “We go into space because whatever mankind must undertake, free men must fully share.”
38. “We set sail on this new sea because there is new knowledge to be gained, and new rights to be won.”
39. “The future belongs to those who can blend passion, reason and courage in a personal commitment.”
40. “Truth is a tyrant-the only tyrant to whom we can give our allegiance.”
41. “Every inhabitant of this planet must contemplate the day when this planet may no longer be habitable.”
42. “Don’t ever take a fence down until you know the reason why it was put up.”
43. “Some people see things as they are and say why. I dream things that never were and say why not?”
44. “The American, by nature, is optimistic.”
45. “The world is a very different one now.”
46. “This nation has tossed its cap over the wall of space, and we have no choice but to follow it.”
47. “Those who came before us made certain that this country rode the first waves of the industrial revolution.”
48. “The science of weapons and war has made us all one world and one human race with one common destiny.”
49. “Books and libraries and the will to use them are among the most important tools our nation has.”
50. “The future does not belong to those who are content with today, apathetic toward common problems.”
51. “The greater our knowledge increases the more our ignorance unfolds.”
52. “The supreme reality of our time is our common vulnerability.”
53. “The world is a very different one now.”
54. “This is the most extraordinary collection of talent, of human knowledge, that has ever been gathered together at the White House.”
55. “The American, by nature, is optimistic.”
56. “We choose to go to the moon in this decade… not because they are easy but because they are hard.”
57. “We depend upon science for prosperity for it supplies the new products and processes indispensable to our growing economy.”
58. “We go into space because whatever mankind must undertake, free men must fully share.”
59. “We set sail on this new sea because there is new knowledge to be gained.”
60. “The future does not belong to those who are content with today.”
61. “Truth is a tyrant-the only tyrant to whom we can give our allegiance.”
62. “Every inhabitant of this planet must contemplate the day when this planet may no longer be habitable.”
63. “Don’t ever take a fence down until you know the reason why it was put up.”
64. “Some people see things as they are and say why. I dream things that never were and say why not?”
65. “The American, by nature, is optimistic.”
66. “The world is a very different one now.”
67. “This nation has tossed its cap over the wall of space.”
68. “Those who came before us made certain that this country rode the first waves of the industrial revolution.”
69. “The science of weapons and war has made us all one world and one human race.”
70. “Books and libraries and the will to use them are among the most important tools our nation has.”
71. “The future does not belong to those who are content with today.”
72. “The greater our knowledge increases the more our ignorance unfolds.”
73. “The supreme reality of our time is our common vulnerability.”
74. “The world is a very different one now.”
75. “This is the most extraordinary collection of talent that has ever been gathered together at the White House.”
76. “The American, by nature, is optimistic.”
77. “We choose to go to the moon in this decade… not because they are easy but because they are hard.”
78. “We depend upon science for prosperity for it supplies the new products and processes indispensable to our growing economy.”
79. “We go into space because whatever mankind must undertake, free men must fully share.”
80. “We set sail on this new sea because there is new knowledge to be gained.”
81. “The future does not belong to those who are content with today.”
82. “Truth is a tyrant-the only tyrant to whom we can give our allegiance.”
83. “Every inhabitant of this planet must contemplate the day when this planet may no longer be habitable.”
84. “Don’t ever take a fence down until you know the reason why it was put up.”
85. “Some people see things as they are and say why. I dream things that never were and say why not?”
86. “The American, by nature, is optimistic.”
87. “The world is a very different one now.”
88. “This nation has tossed its cap over the wall of space.”
89. “Those who came before us made certain that this country rode the first waves of the industrial revolution.”
90. “The science of weapons and war has made us all one world and one human race.”
91. “Books and libraries and the will to use them are among the most important tools our nation has.”
92. “The future does not belong to those who are content with today.”
93. “The greater our knowledge increases the more our ignorance unfolds.”
94. “The supreme reality of our time is our common vulnerability.”
95. “The world is a very different one now.”
96. “This is the most extraordinary collection of talent that has ever been gathered together at the White House.”
97. “The American, by nature, is optimistic.”
98. “We choose to go to the moon in this decade… not because they are easy but because they are hard.”
99. “We depend upon science for prosperity for it supplies the new products and processes indispensable to our growing economy.”
100. “We go into space because whatever mankind must undertake, free men must fully share.”
101. “We set sail on this new sea because there is new knowledge to be gained.”
102. “The future does not belong to those who are content with today.”
103. “Truth is a tyrant-the only tyrant to whom we can give our allegiance.”
104. “Every inhabitant of this planet must contemplate the day when this planet may no longer be habitable.”
105. “Don’t ever take a fence down until you know the reason why it was put up.”
106. “Some people see things as they are and say why. I dream things that never were and say why not?”
107. “The American, by nature, is optimistic.”
108. “The world is a very different one now.”
109. “This nation has tossed its cap over the wall of space.”
110. “Those who came before us made certain that this country rode the first waves of the industrial revolution.”
111. “The science of weapons and war has made us all one world and one human race.”
112. “Books and libraries and the will to use them are among the most important tools our nation has.”
113. “The future does not belong to those who are content with today.”
114. “The greater our knowledge increases the more our ignorance unfolds.”
115. “The supreme reality of our time is our common vulnerability.”
116. “The world is a very different one now.”
117. “This is the most extraordinary collection of talent that has ever been gathered together at the White House.”
118. “The American, by nature, is optimistic.”
119. “We choose to go to the moon in this decade… not because they are easy but because they are hard.”
120. “We depend upon science for prosperity for it supplies the new products and processes indispensable to our growing economy.”
121. “We go into space because whatever mankind must undertake, free men must fully share.”
122. “We set sail on this new sea because there is new knowledge to be gained.”
Conclusion
John F. Kennedy’s words continue to resonate because they capture the spirit of determination, hope, and progress. His quotes encourage us to embrace change, pursue knowledge, and act with courage and purpose. From calls to public service to reflections on human potential, JFK’s legacy is a source of inspiration for all who seek to make a difference.
