Quotes by Robert F. Kennedy 2 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 Francis Kennedy. Robert Francis 'Bobby' Kennedy (November 20, 1925-June 6, 1968), also called RFK, was an American statesman. He was United States Attorney General from 1961 to 1964 and a United States Senator from New York from 1965 until his assassination in 1968.
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,
Famous Quotes Robert Kennedy
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,
Some men look at things the way they are and ask, why? I dream of things that are not and ask, why not?
– Robert F. Kennedy,
Each time a person stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he or she sends forth a tiny ripple of hope.
– Robert F. Kennedy
Moral courage is a more rare commodity than bravery in battle or great intelligence.
– Robert F. Kennedy
Progress is a nice word, but change is its motivator and change has enemies.
– Robert F. Kennedy
There are those that look at things the way they are, and ask why? I dream of things that never were, and ask why not.
-Robert F. Kennedy
Fear not the path of truth for the lack of people walking on it.
– Robert F. Kennedy
Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly.
– Robert F. Kennedy
Too much and too long, we seem to have surrendered community excellence and community values in the mere accumulation of material things.
– Robert F. Kennedy
The future will be shaped by those willing to commit their minds and their bodies to the task.
– Robert F. Kennedy
One-fifth of the people are against everything all the time.
– Robert F. Kennedy
Religion is a salve for confusion and misdirection.
– Robert F. Kennedy
The future is not a gift. It is an achievement.
– Robert F. Kennedy
Tragedy is a tool for the living to gain wisdom, not a guide by which to live.
– Robert F. Kennedy
The sharpest criticism often goes hand in hand with the deepest idealism and love of country.
– Robert F. Kennedy
Some men see things as they are and say “why.” I dream things that never were and say “why not.
– Robert F. Kennedy
I believe as long as there is plenty, poverty is evil.
– Robert F. Kennedy
The purpose of life is to contribute in some way to making things better.
– Robert F. Kennedy
Robert F. Kennedy might not have been the most famous or powerful member of the Kennedy family, but he did have a lot of wisdom to impart on our nation before his tragic assassination.
Much of this wisdom was communicated during RFK’s most iconic speech, the one he delivered in Indianapolis, Indiana following the assassination of Martin Luther King in 1968. In this mostly improvised speech, the former New York senator spoke about the importance of embracing our differences and about how responding to injustice with compassion will benefit all of us.
Although this speech was delivered decades ago, we can still use it today as a guideline for how to respond to adversity or unfairness when we face it in our daily lives (though, to be honest, the majority of us are dealing with champagne problems compared to the crowd that RFK was addressing during his speech in the late sixties). These six quotes from RFK’s speech will remind you that the best way to respond to aggression or injustice is to kill ’em with kindness.
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1.
“You can be filled with bitterness and with hatred and a desire for revenge… or we can make an effort, as Martin Luther King did, to understand and to comprehend and replace that violence… with compassion and love.”
How you can apply this to your daily life: When a friend screws you over and betrays your trust, it might be tempting to seek revenge. But this will only make you feel better temporarily — it won’t make you feel less hurt in the long run. Instead, practice compassion and try to put yourself in your friend’s shoes. Understand that the act was probably performed from a place of insecurity.
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2.
Robert Kennedy Quotes Com
“We have to make an effort to understand, to get beyond and go beyond these rather difficult times.”
How you can apply this to your daily life: If you get stuck in a rut where things aren’t going your way, remind yourself that this low point in your life is just a moment in time. If you keep your head up and don’t get discouraged, you will see the light at the end of the metaphorical tunnel, an indication of better times to come.
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Robert Kennedy Quotes On Justice
3.
“My favorite poem, my favorite poet was Aeschylus. He once wrote: ‘Even in our sleep, pain which cannot forget, falls drop by drop upon the heart, until, in our own despair, against our will, comes wisdom through the awful grace of God.'”
How you can apply this to your daily life: Although difficult times are painful and we’d obviously rather they not happen to us at all, we do learn from them and they will help us grow wiser and stronger. Cue Kelly Clarkson.
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4.
“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 and lawlessness, but is love and wisdom, and compassion toward one another.”
How you can apply this to your daily life: When we’re faced with something unjust — even something as small as our boss taking credit for our hard work — it might be tempting to respond with equal injustice, like by bad-mouthing our boss to our colleagues. But being able to resist this temptation shows true strength in character. We can’t expect others to be kind to us if we don’t treat others with kindness.
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5.
“We can do well… We will have difficult times. We’ve had difficult times in the past. And we will have difficult times in the future… But the vast majority of white people and the vast majority of black people in this country want to live together, want to improve the quality of our life and want justice for all human beings that abide in our land.”
How you can apply this to your daily life: If you’re having one of those days when you feel like the whole world is against you, it can be tempting to jump to the conclusion that our earth is populated by people who are cruel and cold-hearted. While there are some people who have done truly awful things, remember that the majority of individuals on this planet want to live in peace and harmony just like you.
6.
“Let us dedicate ourselves to what the Greeks wrote so many years ago: ‘To tame the savageness of man and make gentle the life of this world.’ Let us dedicate ourselves to that.”
How you can apply this to your daily life: Just because our kind entered this world as savages who were willing to kill each other for the juiciest piece of meat doesn’t mean that screwing each other over is just a part of human nature. We have evolved, and it’s time that we leave the “every man for himself” mentality behind to start lifting each other up instead. Your happiness does not have to come at the expense of someone else’s.
If you’re not inspired to treat others with kindness today after reading these words of wisdom from Robert F. Kennedy, then you must be a cyborg. You can watch his full speech below.
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