Better place Quote by John F. Kennedy
“Dont teach my boy poetry, an English mother recently wrote the Provost of Harrow. Dont teach my boy poetry; he is going to stand for Parliament. Well, perhaps she was rightbut if more politicians knew poetry, and more poets knew politics, I am convinced the world would be a little better place to live on this Commencement Day of 1956.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Commencement Address, Harvard University, 1956
Advocates for integrating poetry into politics, believing that artistic sensibility can improve governance.
In simple terms: Poetry can make politicians better and vice versa.
Encourage politicians to study poetry.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- graduation ceremonies
- policy debates
- literary workshops
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How could poetry influence policy decisions?
- What other arts could benefit politics?
Poetry alone won’t solve political problems; practical skills also matter.