Achievement Quote by John F. Kennedy
“But Goethe tells us in his greatest poem that Faust lost the liberty of his soul when he said to the passing moment: "Stay, thou art so fair." And our liberty, too, is endangered if we pause for the passing moment, if we rest on our achievements, if we resist the pace of progress. Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past are certain to miss the future.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Inaugural Address, John F. Kennedy, 1961
Dwelling on past achievements hinders progress; continual change drives life forward.
In simple terms: Staying in the past blocks future growth.
Key Takeaway
Embrace change, keep moving forward.
Themes
progress
change
future
reflection
Mood
determined
reflective
Type
motivational
philosophical
When to use this quote
- career planning
- personal development
- creative projects
- leadership decisions
Key Concepts
impermanence
growth mindset
temporal focus
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you balance reflection with forward motion?
- What habits keep you from resting on past successes?
A Different Perspective
Ignoring the present can lead to stagnation.
![“Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or the present are certain to miss the future. [Address in the Assembly Hall at the Paulskirche in Frankfurt, June 26 1963]” quote by John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/28c/john-f-kennedy-246_change_change-is-the-law-of-life-and-those-who_2974735.jpg)
