John F. Kennedy

The arts, far from being a diversion, are a central element of national purpose, and in the highest sense, are a test of the quality of a civilization.

Conformity is the jailer of freedom and the enemy of growth.

If a free society cannot help the many who are poor, it cannot save the few who are rich.

The only thing worse than an American who doesn't vote is one who doesn't know where to vote.

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

We must never forget that art is not a form of propaganda; it is a form of truth.

Children are the world's most valuable resource and its best hope for the future.

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.

The artist, however faithful to his personal vision of reality, becomes, whether he wishes it or not, a social force.

We need men who are not afraid to dream, to imagine, and to create.

Let us consider how we can strengthen the fabric of our society.

We must never negotiate out of fear, but we must never fear to negotiate.

Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable.

The world is very different now. For man holds in his mortal hands the power to abolish all forms of human poverty and all forms of human life.

Let us begin anew—remembering on both sides that civility is not a sign of weakness, and sincerity is always subject to proof. Let us never negotiate out of fear. But let us never fear to negotiate.

The cost of freedom is always high, but Americans have always paid it.

Too often we... enjoy the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought.

Victory has a thousand fathers, but defeat is an orphan.

The Chinese use two brush strokes to write the word 'crisis.' One brush stroke stands for danger; the other for opportunity.

I'm not a natural politician. I don't enjoy shaking hands and making small talk. I'd much rather be reading a good book.