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"Efforts and courage are not enough without purpose and direction."

— John F. Kennedy

Efforts And Courage Are Not Enough

Efforts and courage are not enough without purpose and direction.

— John F. Kennedy
courage leadership purpose

About this quote

Widely attributed to Kennedy and consistent with his rhetorical style, but no verified primary source — specific speech text, letter, or official document — has been confirmed for this exact wording. Some sources suggest it derives from remarks at a North Carolina coliseum during the 1960 presidential campaign. Researchers have been unable to pin down a definitive occasion, and it does not appear in the JFK Presidential Library's curated quotation list.

Source

Special Message to the Congress on Urgent National Needs, May 25, 1961

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