Quotes by Martin Luther King, Jr.

Martin Luther King, Jr.

The art of acceptance is the art of making someone who has just done you a small favor wish that he might have done you a greater one.

-Martin Luther King, Jr.

art

We must develop and maintain the capacity to forgive. He who is devoid of the power to forgive is devoid of the power to love. There is some good in the worst of us and some evil in the best of us. When we discover this, we are less prone to hate our enemies.

-Martin Luther King, Jr.

best

Change does not roll in on the wheels of inevitability, but comes through continuous struggle. And so we must straighten our backs and work for our freedom. A man can't ride you unless your back is bent.

-Martin Luther King, Jr.

change

We must build dikes of courage to hold back the flood of fear.

-Martin Luther King, Jr.

courage

A man who won't die for something is not fit to live.

-Martin Luther King, Jr.

death

A nation or civilization that continues to produce soft-minded men purchases its own spiritual death on the installment plan.

-Martin Luther King, Jr.

death

If physical death is the price that I must pay to free my white brothers and sisters from a permanent death of the spirit, then nothing can be more redemptive.

-Martin Luther King, Jr.

death

The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character - that is the goal of true education.

-Martin Luther King, Jr.

education

I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.

-Martin Luther King, Jr.

equality

I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit together at the table of brotherhood.

-Martin Luther King, Jr.

equality

The sweltering summer of the Negro's legitimate discontent will not pass until there is an invigorating autumn of freedom and equality.

-Martin Luther King, Jr.

equality

Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase.

-Martin Luther King, Jr.

faith

Take the first step in faith. You don't have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.

-Martin Luther King, Jr.

faith

We must build dikes of courage to hold back the flood of fear.

-Martin Luther King, Jr.

fear

Darkness cannot drive out darkness only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate only love can do that.

-Martin Luther King, Jr.

forgiveness

Change does not roll in on the wheels of inevitability, but comes through continuous struggle. And so we must straighten our backs and work for our freedom. A man can't ride you unless your back is bent.

-Martin Luther King, Jr.

freedom

Freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor it must be demanded by the oppressed.

-Martin Luther King, Jr.

freedom

The sweltering summer of the Negro's legitimate discontent will not pass until there is an invigorating autumn of freedom and equality.

-Martin Luther King, Jr.

freedom

I just want to do God's will. And he's allowed me to go to the mountain. And I've looked over, and I've seen the promised land! I may not get there with you, but I want you to know tonight that we as a people will get to the promised land.

-Martin Luther King, Jr.

god

We will have to repent in this generation not merely for the vitriolic words and actions of the bad people, but for the appalling silence of the good people.

-Martin Luther King, Jr.

good

We must develop and maintain the capacity to forgive. He who is devoid of the power to forgive is devoid of the power to love. There is some good in the worst of us and some evil in the best of us. When we discover this, we are less prone to hate our enemies.

-Martin Luther King, Jr.

good

History will have to record that the greatest tragedy of this period of social transition was not the strident clamor of the bad people, but the appalling silence of the good people.

-Martin Luther King, Jr.

good

The first question which the priest and the Levite asked was: 'If I stop to help this man, what will happen to me?' But... the good Samaritan reversed the question: 'If I do not stop to help this man, what will happen to him?'

-Martin Luther King, Jr.

good

The ultimate tragedy is not the oppression and cruelty by the bad people but the silence over that by the good people.

-Martin Luther King, Jr.

good

Shallow understanding from people of good will is more frustrating than absolute misunderstanding from people of ill will.

-Martin Luther King, Jr.

good

I am not interested in power for power's sake, but I'm interested in power that is moral, that is right and that is good.

-Martin Luther King, Jr.

good

I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear.

-Martin Luther King, Jr.

great

The hottest place in Hell is reserved for those who remain neutral in times of great moral conflict.

-Martin Luther King, Jr.

great

One of the greatest casualties of the war in Vietnam is the Great Society... shot down on the battlefield of Vietnam.

-Martin Luther King, Jr.

great

History will have to record that the greatest tragedy of this period of social transition was not the strident clamor of the bad people, but the appalling silence of the good people.

-Martin Luther King, Jr.

history

We are not makers of history. We are made by history.

-Martin Luther King, Jr.

history

We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope.

-Martin Luther King, Jr.

hope

The hope of a secure and livable world lies with disciplined nonconformists who are dedicated to justice, peace and brotherhood.

-Martin Luther King, Jr.

hope

The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character - that is the goal of true education.

-Martin Luther King, Jr.

intelligence

Martin Luther King, Jr.

The art of acceptance is the art of making someone who has just done you a small favor wish that he might have done you a greater one.

We must develop and maintain the capacity to forgive. He who is devoid of the power to forgive is devoid of the power to love. There is some good in the worst of us and some evil in the best of us. When we discover this, we are less prone to hate our enemies.

Change does not roll in on the wheels of inevitability, but comes through continuous struggle. And so we must straighten our backs and work for our freedom. A man can't ride you unless your back is bent.

We must build dikes of courage to hold back the flood of fear.

A man who won't die for something is not fit to live.

A nation or civilization that continues to produce soft-minded men purchases its own spiritual death on the installment plan.

If physical death is the price that I must pay to free my white brothers and sisters from a permanent death of the spirit, then nothing can be more redemptive.

The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character - that is the goal of true education.

I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.

I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit together at the table of brotherhood.

The sweltering summer of the Negro's legitimate discontent will not pass until there is an invigorating autumn of freedom and equality.

Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase.

Take the first step in faith. You don't have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.

We must build dikes of courage to hold back the flood of fear.

Darkness cannot drive out darkness only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate only love can do that.

Change does not roll in on the wheels of inevitability, but comes through continuous struggle. And so we must straighten our backs and work for our freedom. A man can't ride you unless your back is bent.

Freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor it must be demanded by the oppressed.

The sweltering summer of the Negro's legitimate discontent will not pass until there is an invigorating autumn of freedom and equality.

I just want to do God's will. And he's allowed me to go to the mountain. And I've looked over, and I've seen the promised land! I may not get there with you, but I want you to know tonight that we as a people will get to the promised land.

We will have to repent in this generation not merely for the vitriolic words and actions of the bad people, but for the appalling silence of the good people.

We must develop and maintain the capacity to forgive. He who is devoid of the power to forgive is devoid of the power to love. There is some good in the worst of us and some evil in the best of us. When we discover this, we are less prone to hate our enemies.

History will have to record that the greatest tragedy of this period of social transition was not the strident clamor of the bad people, but the appalling silence of the good people.

The first question which the priest and the Levite asked was: 'If I stop to help this man, what will happen to me?' But... the good Samaritan reversed the question: 'If I do not stop to help this man, what will happen to him?'

The ultimate tragedy is not the oppression and cruelty by the bad people but the silence over that by the good people.

Shallow understanding from people of good will is more frustrating than absolute misunderstanding from people of ill will.

I am not interested in power for power's sake, but I'm interested in power that is moral, that is right and that is good.

I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear.

The hottest place in Hell is reserved for those who remain neutral in times of great moral conflict.

One of the greatest casualties of the war in Vietnam is the Great Society... shot down on the battlefield of Vietnam.

History will have to record that the greatest tragedy of this period of social transition was not the strident clamor of the bad people, but the appalling silence of the good people.

We are not makers of history. We are made by history.

We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope.

The hope of a secure and livable world lies with disciplined nonconformists who are dedicated to justice, peace and brotherhood.

The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character - that is the goal of true education.

Science investigates religion interprets. Science gives man knowledge which is power religion gives man wisdom which is control.

A genuine leader is not a searcher for consensus but a molder of consensus.

Other Authors to Explore

Vince Cable

Beth Henley

Isocrates

Ariana Grande

Nancy Banks Smith

Jean Giraudoux

Sun Ra

Alan Davies