Duemila anni fa l'orgoglio più grande era poter dire civis romanus sum (sono un cittadino Romano). Oggi, nel mondo libero, l'orgoglio più grande è dire 'Ich bin ein Berliner.' Tutti gli uomini liberi, dovunque essi vivano, sono cittadini di Berlino, e quindi, come uomo libero, sono orgoglioso delle parole 'Ich bin ein Berliner

I am proud to come to this city as the guest of your distinguished Mayor, who has symbolized throughout the world the fighting spirit of West Berlin. And I am proud to visit the Federal Republic with your distinguished Chancellor who for so many years has committed Germany to democracy and freedom and progress, and to come here in the company of my fellow American, General Clay, who has been in this city during its great moments of crisis and will come again if ever needed.
Two thousand years ago the proudest boast was "civis Romanus sum."
Today, in the world of freedom, the proudest boast is "Ich bin ein Berliner."