Inspirational Quotations

Inspirational Quotes by Robert F. Kennedy (American Politician)

Robert Francis Kennedy (1925–68) was a U.S. attorney general and adviser during the presidency of his brother, John F. Kennedy. He later served as a U.S. senator (1965–68) and was assassinated while campaigning for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1968.

Born in Brookline, Massachusetts, he studied at Harvard University and the University of Virginia School of Law before entering public service. As U.S. Attorney General 1961–64, Kennedy led initiatives in civil rights enforcement and combating organized crime. Elected senator from New York in 1965, he advocated for social justice, poverty alleviation, and opposition to the Vietnam War. His 1968 presidential campaign focused on racial equality and economic reform but was tragically cut short by his assassination in Los Angeles.

Kennedy authored several books reflecting his vision and political ideals, including The Enemy Within (1960,) Just Friends and Brave Enemies (1962,) Pursuit of Justice (1964,) To Seek a Newer World (1967,) and Thirteen Days: A Memoir of the Cuban Missile Crisis (1968.)

More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Robert F. Kennedy

Few will have the greatness to bend history itself; but each of us can work to change a small portion of events, and in the total of all those acts will be written the history of this generation.
—Robert F. Kennedy
Topics: History, Action

Goethe tells us in his greatest poem that Faust lost the liberty of his soul when he said to the passing moment, ‘Stay, thou art so fair.’
—Robert F. Kennedy
Topics: Ambition

Others have seen what is and asked why. I have seen what could be and asked why not.
—Robert F. Kennedy

Whenever men take the law into their own hands, the loser is the law. And when the law loses, freedom languishes.
—Robert F. Kennedy
Topics: Lawyers, Law, Freedom

The sharpest criticism often goes hand in hand with the deepest idealism and love of country.
—Robert F. Kennedy

Few are willing to brave the disapproval of their fellows, the censure of their colleagues, the wrath of their society. Moral courage is a rarer commodity than bravery in battle or great intelligence. Yet it is the one essential vital quality for those who seek to change a world that yields most painfully to change.
—Robert F. Kennedy
Topics: Courage, Bravery

What we need in the United States is not division; what we need in the United States is not hatred; what we need in the United States is not violence or lawlessness; but love and wisdom, and compassion toward one another, and a feeling of justice toward those who still suffer within our country, whether they be white or they be black.
—Robert F. Kennedy
Topics: Compassion

We in Government have begun to recognize the critical work which must be done at all levels—local, State and Federal—in ending the pollution of our waters
—Robert F. Kennedy
Topics: Water

It is not enough to understand, or to see clearly. The future will be shaped in the arena of human activity, by those willing to commit their minds and their bodies to the task.
—Robert F. Kennedy
Topics: Future

Progress is a nice word. But change is its motivator. And change has its enemies.
—Robert F. Kennedy
Topics: Change

Fear not the path of Truth for the lack of People walking on it.
—Robert F. Kennedy

Few will have the greatness to bend history itself, but each of us can work to change a small portion of events … it is from numberless acts of courage and belief that human history is shaped.
—Robert F. Kennedy
Topics: Age, Belief

Those who dare to fail miserably can achieve greatly.
—Robert F. Kennedy
Topics: Failure

It is from numberless diverse acts of courage and belief that human history is shaped. Each time a (person) stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope.
—Robert F. Kennedy

One-fifth of the people are against everything all the time.
—Robert F. Kennedy
Topics: Dissent, Opposition

Ultimately, America’s answer to the intolerant man is diversity, the very diversity which our heritage of religious freedom has inspired.
—Robert F. Kennedy

A desire to be in charge of our own lives, a need for control, is born in each of us. It is essential to our mental health, and our success, that we take control.
—Robert F. Kennedy
Topics: Being True to Yourself

If any man claims the Negro should be content … let him say he would willingly change the color of his skin and go to live in the Negro section of a large city. Then and only then has he a right to such a claim.
—Robert F. Kennedy
Topics: Equality

The free way of life proposes ends, but it does not prescribe means.
—Robert F. Kennedy
Topics: Freedom

What is objectionable, what is dangerous, about extremists is not that they are extreme, but that they are intolerant. The evil is not what they say about their cause, but what they say about their opponents.
—Robert F. Kennedy
Topics: Tolerance

The big threat to America is the way we react to terrorism by throwing away what everybody values about our country—a commitment to human rights. America is a great nation because we are a good nation. When we stop being a good nation, we stop being great.
—Robert F. Kennedy
Topics: Terrorism

Your life is the sum result of all the choices you make, both consciously and unconsciously. If you can control the process of choosing, you can take control of all aspects of your life. You can find the freedom that comes from being in charge of yourself.
—Robert F. Kennedy
Topics: Freedom

Don’t get mad, get even.
—Robert F. Kennedy
Topics: Revenge

Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly.
—Robert F. Kennedy
Topics: Fail, Achieving, Success & Failure, Risk, One liners, Adventure, Failure, Achieve, Great, Achievement, Success, Accomplishment

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