This Quote Means | John F Kennedy: “The time to repair the roof is when the sun is shining”

The quote was originally said by the United States’ President John F Kennedy more than six decades ago. At the age of 43, Kennedy became the youngest president of America and served at a time when the Cold War was at its peak. Known for his vigour and vision for heralding his country into an era of modern technology, the president revolutionised American politics before his assassination in 1963.

Here, we take a look at his quote and explain the meaning behind it. Notably, it appeared in the UPSC Mains examination essay paper in 2022.

What is the full quote?

In his 1962 State of the Union Address — a yearly message given by the president of the US to a joint session of the Congress — Kennedy talked about his strategy to strengthen the economy of America. After emphasising measures to increase growth and job opportunities, he went on to suggest ways to prepare for the eventual recession.

“Moreover — pleasant as it may be to bask in the warmth of recovery — let us not forget that we have suffered three recessions in the last seven years. The time to repair the roof is when the sun is shining by filling three basic gaps in our anti-recession protection,” the president said.

What is the meaning of the quote?

Simply put, the quote underlines the importance of timely action to avoid the worst possible outcomes when things go downhill. Good times don’t mean that one should just sit back and enjoy the moment, waiting for the next crisis to happen. It’s better to see such moments as an opportunity to make reforms or fix what’s broken to prepare for tougher times.

This philosophy seems to have come from an old Japanese proverb, which goes like “When you’re dying of thirst, it’s too late to think about digging a well.” It means it’s preferable to be ready rather than getting caught off guard during an emergency.

Hence, Kennedy in his speech warns against basking in the “warmth of recovery” and urges for timely action. During his tenure, he tried to not shy away from taking foolproof measures for the future, despite the political backlash. The president demonstrated this trait most evidently during the so-called space race against the Soviet Union, increasing the funding for his country’s space agency, NASA.

In one of his speeches, Kennedy said, “We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard.”

Where can it be used?

It can be used to make arguments on taking timely action in a number of situations. Apart from signalling the need for preparedness in general in life, one use can be in the context of climate change. To avoid the worst consequences of the climate crisis in the future one must repair the roof when the sun is shining. In its 2022 report, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) stressed on stronger action in the near term in a bid to restrict temperature rise to within 1.5 degree Celsius from pre-industrial times.

“We are at a crossroads. The decisions we make now can secure a liveable future. We have the tools and know-how required to limit warming,” said IPCC Chair Hoesung Lee.

“I am encouraged by climate action being taken in many countries. There are policies, regulations and market instruments that are proving effective. If these are scaled up and applied more widely and equitably, they can support deep emissions reductions and stimulate innovation,” he said.

The quote can also be used to emphasise the need for planning for retirement. “The time to repair the roof is when the sun is shining” could mean investing in different government schemes such as National Pension Scheme (NPS) and Public Provident Fund (PPF) at a young age to ensure a secure future after one retires.