"Today the eyes of all people are truly upon us--and our governments, in every branch, at every level, national, state and local, must be as a city upon a hill--constructed and inhabited by men aware of their great trust and their great responsibilities." bit.ly/2CUOD8g
"History will not judge our endeavors--and a government cannot be selected--merely on the basis of color or creed or even party affiliation. Neither will competence and loyalty and stature, while essential to the utmost, suffice in times such as these." bit.ly/2CUOD8g
"For of those to whom much is given, much is required. When at some future date the high court of history sits in judgment on each one of us, recording whether in our brief span of service we fulfilled our responsibilities, [we] will be measured by the answers to 4 questions:"
"First, were we truly men of courage--with the courage to stand up to one's enemies--and the courage to stand up, when necessary, to one's associates--the courage to resist public pressure, as well as private greed?"
"Secondly, were we truly men of judgment--with perceptive judgment of the future as well as the past--of our own mistakes as well as the mistakes of others--with enough wisdom to know that we did not know, and enough candor to admit it?"
"Third, were we truly men of integrity--men who never ran out on either the principles in which they believed or the people who believed in them... men whom neither financial gain nor political ambition could ever divert from the fulfillment of our sacred trust?"
"Finally, were we truly men of dedication--with an honor mortgaged to no single individual or group, and compromised by no private obligation or aim, but devoted solely to serving the public good and the national interest."
"Courage--judgment--integrity--dedication--these are the historic qualities of the Bay Colony and the Bay State--the qualities which this state has consistently sent to this chamber on Beacon Hill here in Boston and to Capitol Hill back in Washington."
