President John F Kennedy's most inspirational quotes

President John F. Kennedy delivering a speech in Cologne, Germany in 1963.Getty Images

John F. Kennedy delivered some of the most iconic speeches of the 20th century before his tragic death.

President John F. Kennedy, a spectacular orator, is now remembered as an icon of inspiration in the wake of his tragic assassination.

Kennedy, proud of his Irish roots and strong links to Irish America, led the United States into a period of enormous change, introduced civil rights legislation, and even paved the way for the moon landing, but what many will recall about the inspiring president are his choice words and rousing speeches.

Here is IrishCentral’s choice of President John F. Kennedy’s most inspirational quotes:

From his address in New York City to the National Association of Manufacturers on December 5, 1961:

"We must use time as a tool, not as a couch"

From Kennedy's inaugural address in Washington, DC on January 20, 1961:

“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.”

And:

“Let us never negotiate out of fear. But let us never fear to negotiate.”

You can watch Kennedy's inaugural speech here:

From his address in the Assembly Hall at the Paulskirche in Frankfurt on June 25, 1963:

“Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future.”

You can watch President Kennedy's address at the Paulskirche here:

From President Kennedy's address on the First Anniversary of the Alliance for Progress on March 13, 1962:

“Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable.”

You can watch a piece of President Kennedy's speech here:

His address before the 18th General Assembly of the United Nations on September 20, 1963:

"We have the power to make this the best generation of mankind in the history of the world - or make it the last."

You can watch his speech at the UN here:

What's your favorite quote from President John F. Kennedy? Let us know in the comments

President John F. Kennedy's most inspirational quotes