Who said “In the long history of the world, only a few generations have been granted the role of…”?

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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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“In the long history of the world, only a few generations have been granted the role of defending freedom in its hour of maximum danger. I do not shrink from this responsibility -- I welcome it.”
— 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. · evidenceFreedom
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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.). In the long history of the world, only a few generations have been granted the role of defending freedom in its hour of maximum danger. I do not shrink from this responsibility -- I welcome it. [Quotation]. Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/18486-in-the-long-history-of-the-world-only/

MLA

Kennedy, John F. “In the long history of the world, only a few generations have been granted the role of defending freedom in its hour of maximum danger. I do not shrink from this responsibility -- I welcome it.” Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/18486-in-the-long-history-of-the-world-only/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Chicago

Kennedy, John F. “In the long history of the world, only a few generations have been granted the role of defending freedom in its hour of maximum danger. I do not shrink from this responsibility -- I welcome it.” Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/18486-in-the-long-history-of-the-world-only/.

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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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