Robert F. Kennedy Quote

"The problem of power is how to achieve its responsible use
rather than its irresponsible and indulgent use --
of how to get men of power to live for the public
rather than off the public."

by:	Robert F. Kennedy (1925-1968), US Senator, Attorney General
Source:	'I Remember, I Believe,' The Pursuit of Justice, 1964
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Categories:	Conscience, Integrity, Justice, Power, Responsibility, Trust
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Sounds like a self serving platitude from a power seeker.  -- Plevick, Sydney      1
It's interesting to note that most politicians go into the congress well off and come out rich. When Harry Truman left office and drove back to Missouri he had to write his own letters and lick his own stamps. My how things have changed.  -- jim k, Austin,Tx
For anyone under 50 and went to our public schools, Truman was president after Roosevelt died.  -- jim k, Austin,Tx
How can Kennedy say this when he was a champion of social welfare programs and supreme court intervention.  -- cal, lewisville, tx
Cal I see no discrepancy, is not "living for the public" the same thing as caring about their social welfare. And when Clinton said "we are going to end welfare as we know it" and brought in private industry to develop methods to hire former non working welfare people was he not "living for the public". That is simply acting in the publics best interest. I think where "liberals" and "conservatives" differ is the one thinks there is a public and the other abhors the idea of there being a public.  -- Waffler, Smith
Not shooting the messenger, the quote is right on. Kennedy was doing some phenomenal things in government to try and move back to a Constitutional based government (that's why he was assassinated) He generally though, stayed true to his core. He only wanted that part of the Constitution that would support his version of socialism for the people. Waffler, spoken well - as a leftest liberal. A free man outside the "liberals" and "conservatives" box of the statist theocracy (inclusive of its schools, 4th branch - governmental media complex, etc.) libertarians understand the nobility of the individual person, while standing alone singly or, with other individuals. The libertarian sees and interacts with both the tree and the forest; while, the "liberals" and "conservatives" (regardless of their verbal rhetoric) only perceive value (not nobility) in the forest (your reference to public). The "liberals" and "conservatives" perceive the individual to be mere fodder. For example: In a community of old homes, an individual's desires for his personal property is not respected to the point he is forced to become the herd, the individual can not be a tree, he can only be the forest (the borg is all there is).  -- Mike, Norwalk
Libertarians are just as corrupt as all politicians - Rand Paul put your rhetoric back a few decades.  -- RBESRQ
What I will always remember about RFK was his practice of asking the questions that no one wants to address. I am a Republican, capitalist, and conservative. I was looking forward to voting for this man for President. He was too dangerous and we all know what happens to them here. Our question remains, "Why doesn't it ever happen in North Korea, Venezuela, etc.?" This is not to equate RFK to the crazy leaders of those places. It is to mourn the loss of so many "dangerous" people here. JFK, RFK, MLK, and even John Lennon.  -- J. B. Wulff, Bristol, CT      1
I always like RFK. 1968 was a rough year. He may have been from a priviledged background but once he and JFK were in the Oval Office they took on every thug entrenched in DC -- much to father Joe's chagrin. The last of the liberals I respected. Teddy never dared take on corruption. Power is indeed the point.  -- E Archer, NYC      1
A perfectly thought out statement, particularly pertaining to the United States today, with the loss of Democratic principles - upon which this Country was founded. This apparently great man knew, of what he said.  -- Val, Richmond
-- Ronw13, Oregon

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