Who said “It is an unfortunate fact that we can secure peace only by preparing for war.”?

Verified

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

SourceSpeech at Civic Auditorium, Seattle, Washington (6 September 1960)

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“It is an unfortunate fact that we can secure peace only by preparing for war.”
— John F. Kennedy
VerifiedSpeech at Civic Auditorium, Seattle, Washington (6 September 1960) · evidencePeace

Cite this quote

For academic work, cite the original where you can: Speech at Civic Auditorium, Seattle, Washington (6 September 1960).

APA

Kennedy, J. F. (n.d.). It is an unfortunate fact that we can secure peace only by preparing for war. [Quotation]. Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/32101-it-is-an-unfortunate-fact-that-we-can/

MLA

Kennedy, John F. “It is an unfortunate fact that we can secure peace only by preparing for war.” Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/32101-it-is-an-unfortunate-fact-that-we-can/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Chicago

Kennedy, John F. “It is an unfortunate fact that we can secure peace only by preparing for war.” Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/32101-it-is-an-unfortunate-fact-that-we-can/.

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“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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