John Fitzgerald Kennedy ( 8 of 68 )
The President is merely the most important among a large number
of public servants. He should be supported or read more
The President is merely the most important among a large number
of public servants. He should be supported or opposed exactly to
the degree which is warranted by his good conduct or bad conduct,
his efficiency or inefficiency in rendering loyal, able, and
disinterested service to the nation as a whole. Therefore it is
absolutely necessary that there should be full liberty to tell
the truth about his acts, and this means that it is exactly as
necessary to blame him when he does wrong as to praise him when
he does right. Any other attitude in an American citizen is both
base and servile. To announce that there must be no criticism of
the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or
wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally
treasonable to the American public. Nothing but the truth should
be spoken about him or any one else. But it is even more
important to tell the truth, pleasant or unpleasant, about him
than about any one else.
If this nation is to be wise as well as strong, if we are to achieve our destiny, then we read more
If this nation is to be wise as well as strong, if we are to achieve our destiny, then we need more new ideas for more wise men reading more good books in more public libraries. These libraries should be open to all—except the censor. We must know all the facts and hear all the alternatives and listen to all the criticisms. Let us welcome controversial books and controversial authors. For the Bill of Rights is the guardian of our security as well as our liberty.
The American presidency will demand more than ringing manifestos issued from the rear of the battle. It will demand that read more
The American presidency will demand more than ringing manifestos issued from the rear of the battle. It will demand that the President place himself in the very thick of the fight; that he care passionately about the fate of the people he leads ...
The purpose of foreign policy is not to provide an outlet for our own sentiments of hope or indignation; it read more
The purpose of foreign policy is not to provide an outlet for our own sentiments of hope or indignation; it is to shape real events in a real world.
People have not been horrified by war to a sufficient extent ... War will exist until that distant day when read more
People have not been horrified by war to a sufficient extent ... War will exist until that distant day when the conscientious objector enjoys the same reputation and prestige as the warrior does today.
A young man who does not have what it takes to perform military service is not likely to have what read more
A young man who does not have what it takes to perform military service is not likely to have what it takes to make a living.
Modern cynics and skeptics... see no harm in paying those to whom they entrust the minds of their children a read more
Modern cynics and skeptics... see no harm in paying those to whom they entrust the minds of their children a smaller wage than is paid to those to whom they entrust the care of their plumbing.
The freedom of the city is not negotiable. We cannot negotiate with those who say, "What's mine is mine and read more
The freedom of the city is not negotiable. We cannot negotiate with those who say, "What's mine is mine and what's yours is negotiable."
