"In the long history of the world, only a few generations have been granted the role of defending freedom in its hour of maximum danger. I do not shrink from this responsibility — I welcome it. I do not believe that any of us would exchange places with any other people or any other generation. The energy, the faith, the devotion which we bring to this endeavor will light our country and all who serve it — and the glow from that fire can truly light the world. And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you — ask what you can do for your country. My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man."
Quote Details
Added by wikiquote-import-bot
Unverified quote
0 likes
Presidents of the United StatesDemocratic Party (United States) politiciansMembers of the United States SenatePoliticians from BostonUnited States presidential candidates, 1960
Original Language: English
Available Languages (1)
Sources
However, this translation of Gibran is one that occurred over a decade after Kennedy's 1961 speech, appearing in A Third Treasury of Kahlil Gibran (1975) edited by Andrew Dib Sherfan, and the translator most likely drew upon Kennedy's famous words in expressing Gibran's prior ideas. For a further discussion regarding the quote see here.
https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/John_F._Kennedy
Revision History
No revisions have been submitted for this quote.
Categories
Related Quotes
"Na muci se poznaju junaci."
"A rising tide lifts all boats."
"Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable."
"The green beret' is again becoming a symbol of excellence, a badge of courage, a mark of distinction in the fight for…"
"I think it is most appropriate that the President of the United States, whose business place is in Washington, should…"
"The great enemy of the truth is very often not the lie — deliberate, contrived and dishonest — but the myth — persist…"
"I think this is the most extraordinary collection of talent, of human knowledge, that has ever been gathered together…"
"Secondly, what does justice require? In the end, it requires liberty."
"And Prince Bismarck was even more specific. One third, he said, of the students of German universities broke down fro…"
"While geography has made us neighbors, tradition has made us friends. Economics has made us partners. And necessity h…"