If freedom makes social progress possible, so social progress strengthens and enlarges freedom. The two are inseparable partners in the great adventure of humanity.
Robert KennedyRead
Communism everywhere has paid the price of rigidity and dogmatism. Freedom has the strength of compassion and flexibility. It has, above all, the strength of intellectual honesty.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote contrasts the rigidity of communism with the adaptive nature of freedom, emphasizing the importance of compassion and honesty.
Robert Kennedy's quote conveys that communism suffers from strictness and inflexible beliefs, whereas freedom thrives on compassion and adaptability. He emphasizes that true strength lies in being open-minded and honest in thought, fostering a society that values these traits over dogma.
Themes
CommunismFreedomCompassionFlexibilityIntellectual Honesty
In practice
Example use cases
During a discussion on government systems, one might use this quote to illustrate the value of freedom over dogma.
More from Robert Kennedy
All quotes βElections remind us not only of the rights but the responsibilities of citizenship in a democracy.
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Within the United States, we have put great emphasis upon political freedoms. Because it has been our experience that these freedoms can lead to others.
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It is one thing to open job opportunities. It is another to train people to fill them, or to persuade American enterprise to seek Negro as well as white applicants.
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Our attitude towards immigration reflects our faith in the American ideal. We have always believed it possible for men and women who start at the bottom to rise as far as the talent and energy allow. Neither race nor place of birth should affect their chances.
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The Gross National Product measures neither our wit nor our courage, neither our wisdom nor our learning, neither our compassion nor our devotion to our country. It measures everything, in short, except that which makes life worthwhile, and it can tell us everything about America - except whether we are proud to be Americans.
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