“A nation reveals itself not only by the men it produces but also by the men it honors, the men it remembers.”

“The men who create power make an indispensable contribution to the nation's greatness, but the men who question power make a contribution just as indispensable.”

“Great crisis produce great men and great deeds of courage.”

“There is, in addition to a courage with which men die; a courage by which men must live.”

“Do not pray for easy lives. Pray to be stronger men.[Quoting Reverend Phillips Brooks, during Remarks at Presidential Prayer Breakfast, February 7 1963]”

“The problems of the world cannot possibly be solved by skeptics or cynics whose horizons are limited by the obvious realities. We need men who can dream of things that never were.”

“If this nation is to be wise as well as strong, if we are to achieve our destiny, then we need more new ideas for more wise men reading more good books in more public libraries. These libraries should be open to all—except the censor. We must know all the facts and hear all the alternatives and listen to all the criticisms. Let us welcome controversial books and controversial authors. For the Bill of Rights is the guardian of our security as well as our liberty.[Response to questionnaire in Saturday Review, October 29 1960]”