John F. Kennedy: Cost & Risk
on Friday, September 29, 2023Meaning of John F. Kennedy Money Quote: saying Both action and inaction have their costs – Inaction tends to cost the most. John F. Kennedy said:
“There are costs and risks to a program of action, but they are far less than the long range risks and costs of comfortable inaction” — John F. Kennedy
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In this quote, John F. Kennedy is arguing that while taking action to address problems involves short-term costs and risks, failing to act poses even greater long-term costs and risks. By referring to the dangers of “comfortable inaction”, Kennedy suggests that avoiding difficult decisions or reforms for the sake of present ease and convenience will often lead to much larger problems down the road.
The quote conveys Kennedy’s view that proactive leadership requires weighing both the costs of intervening versus the costs of non-intervention, and that in many cases inaction will prove to be the more financially and socially damaging choice over time in spite of initial reluctance.
Overall, JFK is advocating for a balanced and prudent approach that does not dismiss bold steps simply because they come with challenges or uncertainty, if the consequences of stagnation are likely to be worse in the long run.
Birthday: May 29, 1917 – Death: November 22, 1963