Who said “... ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.”?

Verified

John F. Kennedy. A published source records them saying or writing it.

SourceIt has been reported at various places on the internet that in JFK's Inaugural address, the famous line "Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country", was inspired by, or even a direct quotation of the famous and much esteemed writer and poet Khalil Gibran.

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“... ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.”
— John F. Kennedy
VerifiedIt has been reported at various places on the internet that in JFK's Inaugural address, the famous line "Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country", was inspired by, or even a direct quotation of the famous and much esteemed writer and poet Khalil Gibran. · evidencePatriotism

Cite this quote

For academic work, cite the original where you can: It has been reported at various places on the internet that in JFK's Inaugural address, the famous line "Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country", was inspired by, or even a direct quotation of the famous and much esteemed writer and poet Khalil Gibran..

APA

Kennedy, J. F. (n.d.). ... ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country. [Quotation]. Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/16125-ask-not-what-your-country-can-do-for/

MLA

Kennedy, John F. “... ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.” Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/16125-ask-not-what-your-country-can-do-for/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Chicago

Kennedy, John F. “... ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.” Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/16125-ask-not-what-your-country-can-do-for/.

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“I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country.”
— Nathan Hale
VerifiedLast words before being hanged by the British as a spy, (September 22, 1776), according to the account by William Hull based on reports by British Captain John Montresor who was present and who spoke to Hull under a flag of truce the next day · evidenceDetails & citePatriotism

More quotes by John F. Kennedy

“The margin is narrow, but the responsibility is clear.”
VerifiedJohn F. Kennedy, press conference (November 10, 1963). Transcript, The New York Times (November 11, 1963), p. 20. In Theodore Sorensen's Kennedy (1965), these words are followed by "There may be difficulties with the Congress, but a margin of only one vote would still be a mandate" (p. 219). · evidenceDetails & citeVoting
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