The Quotation IndexThe trusted reference for quotations and the sources behind them
Tag Tag Public service
Ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country.
John F. Kennedy Inaugural Address of President John F. Kennedy · 1961

Quotes

“Today the eyes of all people are truly upon us—and our governments, in every branch, at every level, national, state and local, must be as a city upon a hill—constructed and inhabited by men aware of their great trust and their great responsibilities.”

John F. Kennedy · The City Upon a Hill Speech, 1961 · Primary source

“For of those to whom much is given, much is required.”

John F. Kennedy · The City Upon a Hill Speech, 1961 · Primary source

“All this will not be finished in the first one hundred days. Nor will it be finished in the first one thousand days, nor in the life of this Administration, nor even perhaps in our lifetime on this planet. But let us begin.”

John F. Kennedy · Inaugural Address of President John F. Kennedy, 1961 · Primary source

“Now the trumpet summons us again—not as a call to bear arms, though arms we need—not as a call to battle, though embattled we are—but a call to bear the burden of a long twilight struggle, year in and year out, ‘rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation’—a struggle against the common enemies of man: tyranny, poverty, disease and war itself.”

John F. Kennedy · Inaugural Address of President John F. Kennedy, 1961 · Primary source

Works

John F. Kennedy · 1961
Inaugural Address of President John F. Kennedy

Kennedy’s first presidential address, calling for civic responsibility, international cooperation and resolve in confronting Cold War tensions and global poverty.

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John F. Kennedy · 1961
The City Upon a Hill Speech

A farewell address to Massachusetts setting out Kennedy’s standards for public leadership as he prepared to assume the US presidency.

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Related Tags

Civic responsibility 4 Government accountability 1 Political leadership 7 City upon a hill 1 Responsibility 27 Privilege 1 Stewardship 1 Accountability 15 Civic duty 4 Citizenship 5 Collective responsibility 2 National service 1 Long-term commitment 1 Collective action 4 Persistence 18 Political responsibility 2 Cold War 30 International cooperation 8 Poverty 6 Human security 2 John Winthrop 1 Massachusetts 2 Nuclear arms 1