Thirteen quotes from President Kennedy. Much attention is paid to him every year in the fall because that's the anniversary of his assassination. His murder was a seismic event in American history, so I get that. On the other hand, it defines his life by his death, and that is unfair to him and his legacy.
And so, in honor of his May 29th birthday, I celebrate him here.
1. Too often we enjoy the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought.
2. Tolerance implies no lack of commitment to one's own belief. Rather it condemns the oppression and persecution of others.
3. Our progress as a nation can be no swifter than our progress in education.
4. There is a tremendous disadvantage in not having the abrasive quality of the press applied to you daily. Even though we (politicians) never like it, even though we disapprove, there isn't any doubt we could not do the job well in a free society without a free press.
5. Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other.
6. Let us never negotiate out of fear, but let us never fear to negotiate.
7. The great enemy of truth is often not the lie -- deliberate, contrived, and dishonest -- but the myth -- persistent, persuasive, and unrealistic.
8. The time fix the roof is when the sun is shining.
9. We must find time to stop and thank the people who make a difference in our lives.
10. Do not pray for easy lives, pray to be stronger men.
11. Change is the law of life.
12. A man may die, nations may rise and fall, but an idea lives on.
13. Efforts and courage are not enough without purpose and direction.
PS I cannot resist this: Q-Anon believers keep trying to make some connection between Trump and JFK. Can you imagine any of these quotes being considered anything but "wimpy" by Donald J. Trump? I guess a legit war hero and a genuine lion with the ladies didn't feel the need to proclaim himself "strong" and "masculine" with every utterance.
Please join us for THURSDAY THIRTEEN. Click here to play along, and to see other interesting compilations of 13 things.
