"No one should be under the illusion that negotiations for the sake of negotiations always advance the cause of peace. If for lack of preparation they break up in bitterness, the prospects of peace have been endangered. If they are made a forum for propaganda or a cover for aggression, the processes of peace have been abused. But it is a test of our national maturity to accept the fact that negotiations are not a contest spelling victory or defeat. They may succeed — they may fail. They are likely to be successful only if both sides reach an agreement which both regard as preferable to the status quo — an agreement in which each side can consider its own situation to be improved. And this is most difficult to obtain. But, while we shall negotiate freely, we shall not negotiate freedom. Our answer to the classic question of Patrick Henry is still no-life is not so dear, and peace is not so precious, "as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery." And that is our answer even though, for the first time since the ancient battles between Greek city-states, war entails the threat of total annihilation, of everything we know, of society itself. For to save mankind's future freedom, we must face up to any risk that is necessary. We will always seek peace — but we will never surrender."
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
Imported from EN Wikiquote
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…"