The theory of independence is as old as man himself, and it was not invented in this hall. But it was in this hall that the theory became a practice; that the word went out to all, in Thomas Jefferson's phrase, that "the God who gave us life, gave us liberty at the same time." And today this Nation—conceived in revolution, nurtured in liberty, maturing in independence—has no intention of abdicating its leadership in that worldwide movement for independence to any nation or society committed to systematic human oppression.


Address at Independence Hall, 4 July 1962

John F. Kennedy Quotes

The theory of independence is as old as man himself, and it was not invented in this hall. But it was in this hall that the theory became a practice; ...

The theory of independence is as old as man himself, and it was not invented in this hall. But it was in this hall that the theory became a practice; ...

The theory of independence is as old as man himself, and it was not invented in this hall. But it was in this hall that the theory became a practice; ...

The theory of independence is as old as man himself, and it was not invented in this hall. But it was in this hall that the theory became a practice; ...