John Kerry quotes

Born
December 11, 1943, Aurora, Colorado, U.S.

Occupation
Politician.

John Kerry is an American politician who served as the 68th United States Secretary of State from 2013 to 2017.

We still have a lot of work to do to protect our own democracy.
– John Kerry

I have confidence in my campaign. I have assembled a great team that is going to beat George W. Bush, and any rumors to the contrary are completely erroneous.
– John Kerry

America is the one that leads the effort to make sure the freedom of navigation in the South China Sea is protected.
– John Kerry

If you don’t believe … Saddam Hussein is a threat with nuclear weapons, then you shouldn’t vote for me.
– John Kerry

America has an ability to try to make some things happen that other countries don’t necessarily have.
– John Kerry

If you don’t have two states, you have one state, already the non-Jewish population outnumbers the Jewish population in one state.
– John Kerry

Think about this: terrorism, epidemics, poverty, the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction-all challenges that know no borders-the reality is that climate change ranks right up there with every single one of them.
– John Kerry

My definition of patriotism is to defend your country with the truth, no matter the consequences.
– John Kerry

I am not a spokesperson for the church and the church is not a spokesperson for the United States of America.
– John Kerry

For those of us who are fortunate to share an Irish ancestry, we take great pride in the contributions that Irish-Americans.
– John Kerry

Reduce US military presence in Iraq; and bring in neighbors.
– John Kerry

I think that too far, too much, to a greater degree than is anywhere near appropriate, America and our politics are being governed by more and more powerful interests, by fewer and fewer people in the sense of the amount of money that has controlled access and other kinds of things.
– John Kerry

The hope is there. The sun is rising. Our best days are yet to come.
– John Kerry

If you can resolve this transition of [Bashar] Assad, that is absolutely possible, but you have to have a clarity for everybody about the way forward.
– John Kerry

I think George Mitchell is a consummate professional. He is the ideal selection to handle the job of special envoy if you choose to have a special envoy.
– John Kerry

President Clinton was often known as the first black president. I wouldn’t be upset if I could earn the right to be the second.
– John Kerry

I’m an internationalist. I’d like to see our troops dispersed through the world only at the directive of the United Nations.
– John Kerry

And here and now we must insist again that fidelity, honor, and love of country demand untrammeled debate and open dissent. At no time is that truer than in the midst of a war rooted in deceit and justified by continuing deception.
– John Kerry

Medicare is paid for by the American taxpayer. Medicare belongs to you. Medicare is for seniors, who many of them are on fixed income, to lift them out of poverty.
– John Kerry

I saw courage both in the Vietnam War and in the struggle to stop it. I learned that patriotism includes protest, not just military service.
– John Kerry

Values are not just words, values are what we live by. They’re about the causes that we champion and the people we fight for.
– John Kerry

You just don’t in the 21st century behave in 19th century fashion by invading another country on completely trumped up pre-text.
– John Kerry

We’re in a battle for our lives for things that really matter to us. There’s a shell game going on like I’ve never seen before.
– John Kerry

I know something about killing. I don’t like killing. And I don’t think a state honors life by turning around and sanctioning killing.
– John Kerry

Those who deny the science or choose excuses over action are playing with fire.
– John Kerry

There are issues of war and peace. And then, there are issues of life and death like this one that are no less morally compelling than war itself.
– John Kerry

I personally didn’t see personal atrocities in the sense I saw somebody cut a head off or something like that. However, I did take part in free-fire zones, I did take part in harassment and interdiction fire, I did take part in search-and-destroy missions.
– John Kerry

Each and every child in this country is valuable because they are our future as a society. We cannot afford to lose a single child to ill-health, under-education, abuse, addiction, jail, or gun violence. America’s highest goal should be for every child to grow up to be a successful young adult — healthy, educated, free, secure, and a good citizen.
– John Kerry

If the threat is jihadism – and it is – and the threat is the destruction of Syria so that all of these refugees are swamping into Europe and changing the whole character and politics of Europe, this is the time to unite to find a way out.
– John Kerry

We do not need more division. We certainly do not need something as complex and emotional as Vietnam reduced to simple campaign rhetoric.
– John Kerry

I think the United States is still the indispensable force for positive change and for rule of law and for order and structure.
– John Kerry

I’m glad the President finally found an economic development program. I’m just sad that it’s only in Baghdad.
– John Kerry