India, May 29 -- May 29 marks the birth anniversary of John F Kennedy (JFK), the 35th President of the United States. While the world he inhabited - defined by black-and-white television - seems distant, one specific warning he delivered to the United Nations in 1961 feels as though it was written for this morning's headlines. Also read | Quote of the day by Abraham Lincoln: 'Give me six hours to chop down a tree, and I will spend the first four.'

On September 25, 1961, he stood before the UN General Assembly and delivered a speech that has since become a cornerstone of global diplomacy. He said, "War appeals no longer as a rational alternative. Unconditional war can no longer lead to unconditional victory. It can no longer serve to sett...