John F. Kennedy Quotes

In a democracy, power implies responsibility.

Men who create power make an indispensable contribution to a nation's greatness. But, men who question power make a contribution just as indispensable.

As citizens of this democracy, you are the rulers and the ruled, the law-givers and the law-abiding, the beginning and the end.

Yes, I'm your governor now. I'll take care of you.

People in positions of power and privilege have a duty to perform at a higher level. If not them, then who?

Each age must … contend anew with the question of power and accountability.

All power is a trust; that we are accountable for its exercise.

We wrestle with the political issues of who has stewardship over life.

The most important thing Spartans must learn is to know how to govern, and to be governed

Freedom requires civil responsibility.

Knowledge of human nature is the beginning and end of political education.

America somehow thinks that leadership relates to governance, and it certainly does. But society is much bigger than governance, and some of the truly great leadership of our society is outside the governance arena.

It takes tremendous discipline to control the influence, the power you have over other people's lives.

Some people have much more pull than other people. But when I say that the public has ultimate responsibility, I'm not saying it in a moral sense. I'm just saying it in the sense of what is it that's really going to bring change.

In politics, as in business, leadership is crucial.

Government, in the last analysis, is organized opinion. Where there is little or no public opinion, there is likely to be bad government.

Governments need to have both shepherds and butchers.

You must see the persons who are in charge - persons you can punish or vote for.

For Athens alone of her contemporaries is found when tested to be greater than her reputation, and alone gives no occasion to her assailants to blush at the antagonist by whom they have been worsted, or to her subjects to question her title by merit to rule. Rather, the admiration of the present and succeeding ages will be ours.

Questioning is the great strength of democracy; the ability to doubt without losing face

Civilizations do not collapse because the citizenry are corrupt or lazy or anti-intellectual. These people do not have the power and influence to either lead or destroy. Civilizations collapse when those who have power fail to do their jobs.

Self government is the hardest thing that people can do other than fighting a civil war.

He who has the power to take part in the deliberative or judicial administration of any state is said by us to be a citizen of that state.

Certainly I shall not be one of those who, having gained power, do not wish to use it.

Our rulers do wrong from choice and right from necessity.