--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If we could ever competitively, at a…" description: "\"If we could ever competitively, at a cheap rate, get fresh water from saltwater, ..(this) would be in the long-range interests of humanity which could ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/376/john-f-kennedy-246_accomplishment_if-we-could-ever-competitively-at-a-chea_1811812.jpg" --- # If we could ever competitively, at a cheap rate, get fresh… ![“If we could ever competitively, at a cheap rate, get fresh water from saltwater, ..(this) would be in the long-range interests of humanity which could really dwarf any other scientific accomplishments.” quote by John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/376/john-f-kennedy-246_accomplishment_if-we-could-ever-competitively-at-a-chea_1811812.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/376/john-f-kennedy-246_accomplishment_if-we-could-ever-competitively-at-a-chea_1811812.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/376/john-f-kennedy-246_accomplishment_if-we-could-ever-competitively-at-a-chea_1811812.jpg) > “If we could ever competitively, at a cheap rate, get fresh water from saltwater, ..(this) would be in the long-range interests of humanity which could really dwarf any other scientific accomplishments.” [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Access to cheap desalinated water could become humanity’s most transformative scientific achievement, surpassing many other breakthroughs. **In simple terms:** Cheap desalination could be humanity’s biggest breakthrough. Key Takeaway Invest in scalable desalination tech. Themes science technology humanity environment resource management Mood optimistic urgent Type visionary inspirational When to use this quote - urban planning - agricultural irrigation - disaster relief - remote communities - industrial cooling Key Concepts Sustainability global equity innovation Questions to Reflect On - How can we reduce energy use in desalination? - What policies could accelerate global access? A Different Perspective High costs and energy demands may limit early adoption. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Accomplishment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accomplishment/) [Dwarves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dwarves/) [Fresh water](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fresh-water/) [Humanity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humanity/) [Interest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interest/) [Water](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/water/) ## Related quotes > [“Kissing her is like drinking salted water, he thinks. His thirst only increases.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-sheridan/kissing-her-is-like-drinking-salted-water-he-thinks-his-thirst-only/) [Sara Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-sheridan/) > [“drenching his shirt with saltwater”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephenie-meyer/drenching-his-shirt-with-saltwater/) [Stephenie Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephenie-meyer/) > [Saltwater fishing is only for the strong man with a hard stomach. It's like sex after lunch.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-ritz/saltwater-fishing-is-only-for-the-strong-man-with-a-hard-stomach-it-s/) [Charles Ritz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-ritz/) > [Saltwater heals, healing referring to its various forms; tears, cleanses and heals the soul; sweat, cleanses through labor; the ocean, heals in all its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabindranath-tagore/saltwater-heals-healing-referring-to-its-various-forms-tears-cleanses/) [Rabindranath Tagore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rabindranath-tagore/) > [You shoot saltwater in your ass?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-schumer/you-shoot-saltwater-in-your-ass/) [Amy Schumer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-schumer/) > [If you ever get a high official position in your country, you must see the interests of the humanity much more important than the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/if-you-ever-get-a-high-official-position-in-your-country-you-must-see/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [“The sea was like another member of the household, a recalcitrant child at times, a soothing aunt at others. She crooned them awake; she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hala-alyan/the-sea-was-like-another-member-of-the-household-a-recalcitrant-child/) [Hala Alyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hala-alyan/) > [...in serving the best interests of children, we serve the best interests of all humanity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-bellamy/in-serving-the-best-interests-of-children-we-serve-the-best-interests/) [Carol Bellamy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-bellamy/) > [“An atmosphere of sympathetic influence encircles every human being; and the man or woman who feels strongly, healthily and justly, on the great interests…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-beecher-stowe/an-atmosphere-of-sympathetic-influence-encircles-every-human-being/) [Harriet Beecher Stowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-beecher-stowe/) > [Humanity needs practical men, who get the most out of their work, and, without forgetting the general good, safeguard their own interests. But humanity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-curie/humanity-needs-practical-men-who-get-the-most-out-of-their-work-and/) [Marie Curie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-curie/) > [My favorite toy or game has been the ocean. My real passion is for saltwater.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorian-doc-paskowitz/my-favorite-toy-or-game-has-been-the-ocean-my-real-passion-is-for/) [Dorian "Doc" Paskowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorian-doc-paskowitz/) > [The great have private feelings of their own, to which the interests of humanity and justice must curtsy. Their interests are so far from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-hazlitt/the-great-have-private-feelings-of-their-own-to-which-the-interests/) [William Hazlitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-hazlitt/) > [Bill Clinton persuaded some people that he was really a civilized character and his Administration had the best interests of humanity at heart. These…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-pilger/bill-clinton-persuaded-some-people-that-he-was-really-a-civilized/) [John Pilger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-pilger/) > [We must recognize that as the dominant power in the world we have a special responsibility. In addition to protecting our national interests, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-soros/we-must-recognize-that-as-the-dominant-power-in-the-world-we-have-a/) [George Soros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-soros/) > [“We hit the sunny beaches where we occupy ourselves keeping the sun off our skin, the saltwater off our bodies, and the sand out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erma-bombeck/we-hit-the-sunny-beaches-where-we-occupy-ourselves-keeping-the-sun/) [Erma Bombeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erma-bombeck/) ## More by John F. Kennedy > [“We shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and success of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/we-shall-pay-any-price-bear-any-burden-meet-any-hardship-support-any/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [We stand today on the edge of a new frontier - the frontier of the 1960's - a frontier of unknown opportunities and perils…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/we-stand-today-on-the-edge-of-a-new-frontier-the-frontier-of-the-1960/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [We will neglect our cities to our peril, for in neglecting them we neglect the nation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/we-will-neglect-our-cities-to-our-peril-for-in-neglecting-them-we/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [We must recognize that every nation determines its policies in terms of its own interests.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/we-must-recognize-that-every-nation-determines-its-policies-in-terms/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [Someone always needs rescuing, yet there's only one person who ever seems to understand you. It's a lot like being Lassie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/someone-always-needs-rescuing-yet-there-s-only-one-person-who-ever/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [Student loans have been helpful to many. But they offer neither incentive nor assistance to those students who, by reason of family or other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/student-loans-have-been-helpful-to-many-but-they-offer-neither/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [Great crises produce great men, and great deeds of courage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/great-crises-produce-great-men-and-great-deeds-of-courage/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [There comes a point where you see no evidence that the carrot and diplomacy are working.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/there-comes-a-point-where-you-see-no-evidence-that-the-carrot-and/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [Suspicion on one side breeds suspicion on the other, and new weapons beget counter-weapons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/suspicion-on-one-side-breeds-suspicion-on-the-other-and-new-weapons/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [We have some of the most influential Members of Congress here today, and I do hope that we can get this appropriation for these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/we-have-some-of-the-most-influential-members-of-congress-here-today/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [Disarmament without checks is but a shadow - and a community without law is but a shell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/disarmament-without-checks-is-but-a-shadow-and-a-community-without/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [This is one country. It has become one country because all of us and all the people who came here had an equal chance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/this-is-one-country-it-has-become-one-country-because-all-of-us-and/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [“The courage of life is often a less dramatic spectacle than the courage of a final moment; but it is no less a magnificent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/the-courage-of-life-is-often-a-less-dramatic-spectacle-than-the/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [Washington is a city of Southern efficiency and Northern charm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/washington-is-a-city-of-southern-efficiency-and-northern-charm/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [Peace does not rest in the charters and covenants alone. It lies in the hearts and minds of all people. So let us not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/peace-does-not-rest-in-the-charters-and-covenants-alone-it-lies-in/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) [Explore all 824 John F. Kennedy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) ## More Accomplishment quotes > [Writing is something I took up rather than anything I had an inclination toward. I like acting -delivering someone else's message - but writing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-martin/writing-is-something-i-took-up-rather-than-anything-i-had-an/) [Steve Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-martin/) > [“In American terms, the accomplishment of Genghis Khan might be understood if the United States, instead of being created by a group of educated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-weatherford/in-american-terms-the-accomplishment-of-genghis-khan-might-be/) [Jack Weatherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-weatherford/) > [Can you imagine any better example of divine creative accomplishment that the consummate flying machine that is a bird? The skeleton, very flexible and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-murchie/can-you-imagine-any-better-example-of-divine-creative-accomplishment/) [Guy Murchie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-murchie/) > [To accomplish much you must first lose everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/che-guevara/to-accomplish-much-you-must-first-lose-everything/) [Che Guevara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/che-guevara/) > [One of the most important rules for success is this: Every great success is the result of hundreds and thousands of small efforts and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/one-of-the-most-important-rules-for-success-is-this-every-great/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [For many of us, work is the one place where we feel appreciated. The things that we long to experience at home - pride…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arlie-russell-hochschild/for-many-of-us-work-is-the-one-place-where-we-feel-appreciated-the/) [Arlie Russell Hochschild](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arlie-russell-hochschild/) > [Humility is an elusive virtue. The more we pursue it - and the more we seem to acquire it - the more we take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-aquilina/humility-is-an-elusive-virtue-the-more-we-pursue-it-and-the-more-we/) [Mike Aquilina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-aquilina/) > [I'm not always right, but I learn from my mistakes and make it a productive experience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carson-kolhoff/i-m-not-always-right-but-i-learn-from-my-mistakes-and-make-it-a/) [Carson Kolhoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carson-kolhoff/) > [Suffering in life can uncover untold depths of character and unknown strength for service. People who go through life unscathed by sorrow and untouched…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/suffering-in-life-can-uncover-untold-depths-of-character-and-unknown/) [Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/) > [There is no limit to the amount of good you can do if you don't care who gets the credit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/there-is-no-limit-to-the-amount-of-good-you-can-do-if-you-don-t-care/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [Research is the live heart of the scientific life ... Greatness of position, respect for past accomplishments, the Nobel Prize itself -- none of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vivian-gornick/research-is-the-live-heart-of-the-scientific-life-greatness-of/) [Vivian Gornick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vivian-gornick/) > [“One man accomplishment Is another mans failure.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-sargent/one-man-accomplishment-is-another-mans-failure/) Anthony Sargent > [I expected college to feel like a major accomplishment. I walked across the stage, eight months pregnant with my almost seven-year-old daughter watching in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-land/i-expected-college-to-feel-like-a-major-accomplishment-i-walked/) [Stephanie Land](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-land/) > [Our purpose on this earth is not one single event, an accomplishment we can check off a list. There is no test. No passing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-hand/our-purpose-on-this-earth-is-not-one-single-event-an-accomplishment/) [Cynthia Hand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-hand/) > [An untrained or uneducated Marine ... deployed to the combat zone is a bigger threat to mission accomplishment ... than the enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mattis/an-untrained-or-uneducated-marine-deployed-to-the-combat-zone-is-a/) [James Mattis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mattis/) [Browse all 1,598 Accomplishment quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accomplishment/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If we could ever competitively, at a cheap rate, get fresh water from saltwater, ..(this) would be in the long-range interests of humanity which could really dwarf any other scientific accomplishments.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John F. 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