I think the success of any school can be measured by the contribution the alumni make to our national life.
Interpretation
The quality of a school is reflected in how its former students contribute to society.
John F. Kennedy emphasizes that the true measure of a school's success lies not just in its academic performance but in the impact its alumni have on the broader society. When former students actively contribute to national life, it signifies that the education they received has instilled in them a sense of responsibility and purpose, showcasing the lasting influence of their school.
In practice
In a speech about educational reform, a politician might quote Kennedy to emphasize the importance of alumni contributions to society.
The great battleground for the defense and expansion of freedom today is the whole southern half of the globe... the lands of the rising peoples. Their revolution is the greatest in human history. They seek an end to injustice, tyranny and exploitation. More than an end, they seek a beginning.
I had always enjoyed the title of Commander-in-Chief until I was informed ... that the only forces that cannot be transferred from Washington without my express permission are the members of the Marine Corps Band. Those are the only forces I have. I want it announced that we propose to hold the White House against all odds at least for some time to come.
I am talking about genuine peace, the kind of peace that makes life on earth worth living, the kind that enables men and nations to grow and to hope and to build a better life for their children - not merely peace for Americans but peace for all men and women - not merely peace in our time but peace for all time.
I just received the following wire from my generous Daddy; Dear Jack, Don't buy a single vote more than is necessary. I'll be damned if I'm going to pay for a landslide.
Tolerance implies no lack of commitment to one's own beliefs. Rather it condemns the oppression or persecution of others.
Mankind must put an end to war before war puts an end to mankind.
We have an education and business culture that tends to reward quick factual answers over imaginative inquiry. Questioning isnβt encouraged - it is barely tolerated.
For every child prodigy that you know about, at least 50 potential ones have burned out before you even heard about them.
Study history, study history. In history lie all the secrets of statecraft.
A society's competitive advantage will come not from how well its schools teach the multiplication and periodic tables, but from how well they stimulate imagination and creativity.
The best effect of any book is that it excites the reader to self activity.
We travel to open our hearts and eyes and learn more about the world than our newspapers will accommodate.
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