John F. Kennedy Government Quotations

Too often we... enjoy the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought.

When we got into office, the thing that surprised me most was to find that things were just as bad as we'd been saying they were.

The efforts of governments alone will never be enough. In the end, the people must choose and the people must help themselves.

The basis of effective government is public confidence, and that confidence is endangered when ethical standards falter or appear to falter.

There's an old saying that victory has a hundred fathers and defeat is an orphan.... I'm the responsible officer of the Government.

Any system of government will work when everything is going well. It's the system that functions in the pinches that survive

Perhaps scientists have been the most international of all professions in their outlook... Every time you scientists make a major invention, we politicians have to invent a new institution to cope with it-and almost invariably, these days, it must be an international institution.

The basis of effective government is public confidence.

I have seen in many places housing which has been developed under government influences, but I have never seen any projects in which governments have played their part which have fountains and statues and grass and trees, which are as important to the concept of the home as the roof itself.

Anyone who is honestly seeking a job and can't find it, deserves the attention of the United States government, and the people.

My experience in government is that when things are non-controversial and beautifully coordinated, there is not much going on.

There is danger that totalitarian governments, not subject to vigorous popular debate, will underestimate the will and unity of democratic societies where vital interests are concerned.

History will not judge our endeavors--and a government cannot be selected--merely on the basis of color or creed or even party affiliation. Neither will competence and loyalty and stature, while essential to the utmost, suffice in times such as these.

No government or social system is so evil that its people must be considered as lacking in virtue.

Self-government requires qualities of self-denial and restraint.

Some of my colleagues who are criticized today for lack of forthright principles-or who are looked upon with scorn as compromising "politicians"-are simply engaged in the fine art of conciliating, balancing and interpreting the forces and factions of public opinion, an art essential to keeping our nation united and enabling our Government to function.

The Federal Government is the people and the budget is a reflection of their need.

Lower rates of taxation will stimulate economic activity and so raise the levels of personal and corporate income as to yield within a few years an increased - not a reduced - flow of revenues to the federal government.

Without debate, without criticism no administration and no country can succeed and no republic can survive.

Every time that we try to lift a problem from our own shoulders, and shift that problem to the hands of the government, to the same extent we are sacrificing the liberties of our people.

Our Constitution wisely assigns both joint and separate roles to each branch of the government; and a President and a Congress who hold each other in mutual respect will neither permit nor attempt any trespass.

No responsibility of government is more fundamental than the responsibility of maintaining the highest standard of ethical behavior for those who conduct the public business.

For in a democracy, every citizen, regardless of his interest in politics, "hold office"; every one of us is in a position of responsibility; and, in the final analysis, the kind of government we get depends upon how we fulfill those responsibilities. We, the people, are the boss, and we will get the kind of political leadership, be it good or bad, that we demand and deserve.