How we cite our quotes: (Sentence)
Quote #1
I want to say, on behalf of my countrymen, who live many miles away on the other side of the Atlantic, who are far distant from you, that they take the greatest pride that they have been able to share with you, even from a distance, the story of the last eighteen years. (16)
Sharing = caring. Therefore Americans care about Berlin. That's how this works, right? At least that's what Kennedy's trying to say—that Americans are impressed with all that persevering the Germans have been up to lately.
Quote #2
I know of no town, no city, that has been besieged for eighteen years that still lives with the vitality and the force, and the hope and the determination of the city of West Berlin. (17)
That is very specific, but one can assume that Kennedy also didn't know of any cities besieged for nineteen, twenty, or any other number of years as awesome as Berlin. Berlin gets the medal for persevering longer than any other city anyone can remember right now.
Quote #3
So let me ask you, as I close, to lift your eyes beyond the dangers of today, to the hopes of tomorrow, beyond the freedom merely of this city of Berlin, or your country of Germany, to the advance of freedom everywhere, beyond the wall to the day of peace with justice, beyond yourselves and ourselves to all mankind. (22)
Kennedy says eyes, but does he mean heart, or mind? What body part do people use to hope and consider the future? Whichever it is, it should be charged with optimism because if they've persevered this long, then there's nothing they can't do.