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Martin Luther King, Jr.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Quotes

Civil rights activist

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Famous Martin Luther King, Jr. Quotes

“And I must say tonight that a riot is the language of the unheard. And what is it America has failed to hear? It has failed to hear that the plight of the negro poor has worsened over the last twelve or fifteen years. It has failed to hear that the promises of freedom and justice have not been met. And it has failed to hear that large segments of white society are more concerned about tranquility and the status quo than about justice and humanity.”

YearsLastsAmericaHumanityLanguageJusticeWhitePoorPromiseMetsConcernedTonightTwelveFifteenTranquilityStatus QuoRiotFifteen YearsUnheardPlight
Author:Martin Luther King, Jr.
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“I feel that non-violence is really the only way that we can follow because violence is just so self-defeating. A riot ends up creating many more problems for the negro community than it solved. We can through violence burn down a building, but you can't establish justice. You can murder a murderer, but you can't murder murder through violence. You can murder a hater, but you can't murder hate. And what we're trying to get rid of is hate, injustice, and all of these other things that continue the long night of man's inhumanity to man.”

MenWayFeelsTryingLongEndsSelfProblemNightHateCommunityJusticeViolenceBuildingCreatingMurderInjusticeMurdererRiotNon ViolenceInhumanityLong NightsInhumanity To Man
Author:Martin Luther King, Jr.
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“With all of its false assumptions and evil methods, communism grew as a protest against the hardships of the underprivileged. Communism in theory emphasized a classless society, and a concern for social justice, though the world knows from sad experience that in practice it created new classes and a new lexicon of injustice.”

KnowsWorldWisdomEvilPoliticsSocialJusticeClassPracticeEconomyTheoryGrewConcernMethodSocial JusticeInjusticeCommunismAssumptionLiberalismProtestHardshipUnderprivilegedLexiconFalse AssumptionsNew ClassClassless Society
Book:A Martin Luther King Treasury
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“Power properly understood is nothing but the ability to achieve purpose... one of the great problems of history is that the concepts of love and power have usually been contrasted as opposites --- polar opposites --- so that love is identified with a resignation of power, and power with a denial of love... What is needed is a realization that power without love is reckless and abusive, and love without power is sentimental and anemic. Power at its best is love implementing the demands of justice, and justice at its best is power correcting everything that stands against love.”

ProblemPurposeJusticeAbilityLove IsAchieveNeededDemandUnderstoodConceptsOppositesAnd LoveRealizationDenialSentimentalRecklessResignationWithout LoveAbusiveCorrectingImplementingPolar OppositesAgainst LoveConcept Of Love
Author:Martin Luther King, Jr.
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“I am cognizant of the interrelatedness of all communities and states. I cannot sit idly by in Atlanta and not be concerned about what happens in Birmingham. Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly. Never again can we afford to live with the narrow, provincial "outside agitator" idea.”

IdeasStatesHappensCommunityJusticeDestinyConcernedThreatInjusticeCaughtTiedGarmentsAtlantaBirminghamCognizantInterrelatednessInjustice Anywhere
Author:Martin Luther King, Jr.
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“Join with the Earth and each other, to bring new life to the land, to restore the waters, to refresh the air, to renew the forests, to care for the plants, to protect the creatures, to celebrate the seas, to rejoice in the sunlight, to sing the song of the stars, to recall our destiny, to renew our spirits, to reinvigorate our bodies, to recreate the human community, to promote justice and peace, to love our children and love one another, to join together as many and diverse expressions of one loving mystery, for the healing of the Earth and the renewal of all life.”

HumansChildrenBodyCareEarthTogetherSpiritSongStarsWaterCommunityJusticeHealingDestinyAirMysterySeaLandExpressionProtectCreaturesAnd LoveOur ChildrenPlantForestsCelebrateRejoiceSunlightDiverseRecallsNew LifeOur DestinyRenewalLove One AnotherPeace And JusticeChildren And LoveLove Our Children
Author:Martin Luther King, Jr.
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“Our scientific power has outrun our spiritual power. We have guided missiles and misguided men. Our hope for creative living lies in our ability to reestablish the spiritual needs of our lives in personal character and social justice. Without this spiritual and moral reawakening we shall destroy ourselves in the misuse of our own instruments.”

MenNeedsCharacterSpiritualLyingSocialJusticeAbilityMoralCreativeOur LivesSocial JusticeInstrumentsMissilesMisguidedMisuseSpiritual PowerOutrunLiving A LiePersonal Character
Author:Martin Luther King, Jr.
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“I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, sons of former slaves and sons of former slave-owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood. I have a dream that one day, even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into a oasis of freedom and justice. I have a dream 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 content of their character. I have a dream today!”

ChildrenLittlesStatesCharacterDreamTodayAbleTogetherNationsJusticeFourColorSonOne DayRedSkinsTablesSlaveInjusticeOppressionFormerHillsHeatOwnersBrotherhoodJudgedTransformedGeorgiaMississippiOasisSlave OwnersInjustice And Oppression
Author:Martin Luther King, Jr.
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“Many of the ugly pages of American history have been obscured and forgotten....America owes a debt of justice which it has only begun to pay. If it loses the will to finish or slackens in its determination, history will recall its crimes and the country that would be great will lack the most indispensable element of greatness-justice.”

IfsHas BeensCountryWould BeAmericaLosesJusticePayCrimeGreatnessElementsPagesDeterminationForgottenUglyDebtRecallsAmerican HistoryIndispensableMisdeeds
Author:Martin Luther King, Jr.
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“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.”

ChildrenLittlesCharacterDreamNationsJusticeFourTeachingIdentityColorKingsIntegrityOne DaySpeechDiversityRacismSkinsHuman RightsConservativeEqualitySillyDiscriminationAfrican AmericanHypocrisyBlack PeopleJudgedAmerican DreamDiverseAmerican HistorySentimentalGood CharacterI Had A DreamUnity In DiversityOregonSkin ColorEquality And JusticeBeing EqualHappy ChildrenIntegrity And CharacterIntegrity CharacterEquality Of PeopleEquality For AllI Have A Dream SpeechKings SpeechAnti RacistKings And LoveBeing JudgedGood KingsSocial EqualityPeaceful ProtestSlave OwnersInjustice And OppressionAnti DiscriminationBlack SkinRacism And PrejudiceDark SkinnedJustice EqualityJudge Of CharacterTolerance And DiversityBrown SkinMarch On WashingtonPolitical EqualityRace And ColorDefects Of CharacterTrue EqualityAfrican RacePreschool Children
Author:Martin Luther King, Jr.
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“Human progress is neither automatic nor inevitable... Every step toward the goal of justice requires sacrifice, suffering, and struggle; the tireless exertions and passionate concern of dedicated individuals.”

HumansSufferingPassionIndividualGoalChangeWorkJusticeStepsStruggleProgressSacrificeHeroConcernPassionateInevitableOwnersDedicatedEvery StepExertionSacrifice For OthersHuman ProgressHuman SufferingGood KingsWorld SufferingProgress In Life
Book:The Wisdom of Martin Luther King, Jr
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“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”

WisdomPeaceCommunityJusticeFreedomStruggleRightsSocietyDangerKingsGaySocial JusticeThreatInjusticeHuman RightsEqualityCivil RightsIslamicJailBentEqual RightsMenacePeace And JusticeCriminal JusticeI Had A DreamBeing At PeacePeace JusticeRacial JusticeEquality And JusticeInternational PeaceBirminghamLiberty And JusticeMass IncarcerationSocial InjusticeTruth And JusticeLaw And JusticeI Have A Dream SpeechKings SpeechJustice For AllKings And LoveGood KingsSocial EqualityCivil Right MovementJustice And MercyJustice And InjusticeSocial ActionAfrican American InspirationalAmerican JusticeEqual JusticeLegal RightsHuman EqualityAfrican American Civil RightsJustice EqualityJustice TruthBeloved CommunityInterrelatednessInjustice AnywhereRights In AmericaJustice Denied
Author:Martin Luther King, Jr.
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“The hope of a secure and livable world lies with disciplined nonconformists who are dedicated to justice, peace and brotherhood.”

WorldLyingPeaceJusticeDisciplineDiversityCommitmentSecureThought ProvokingBrotherhoodDedicatedSelf DisciplineNonconformityPeace And JusticeUnity In DiversityPeace JusticeNonconformistKings And LoveAmerican JusticeTrailblazersBrotherhood And PeaceDisciplined Life
Book:A Gift of Love: Sermons from Strength to Love and Other Preachings
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“As my sufferings mounted I soon realized that there were two ways in which I could respond to my situation -- either to react with bitterness or seek to transform the suffering into a creative force. I decided to follow the latter course.”

WayTwoSufferingCoursesForceJusticeHealingSituationCreativeSacrificeDecidedLatterBitternessTwo Ways
Book:A Gift of Love: Sermons from Strength to Love and Other Preachings
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“Yes, if you want to say that I was a drum major, say that I was a drum major for justice. Say that I was a drum major for peace. I was a drum major for righteousness. And all of the other shallow things will not matter. I won't have any money to leave behind. I won't have the fine and luxurious things of life to leave behind. But I just want to leave a committed life behind. And that's all I want to say.”

IfsWantMatterJusticeBehindsFineMajorsCommittedRighteousnessShallowLuxuriousDrum Major
Book:The Essential Martin Luther King, Jr.:
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“Power without love is reckless and abusive, and love without power is sentimental and anemic. Power at its best is love implementing the demands of justice, and justice at its best is power correcting everything that stands against love.”

LovePoliticsJusticeLove IsDemandAnd LoveSentimentalRecklessWithout LoveAbusivePeace And JusticeCorrectingPeace JusticeImplementingPolar OppositesAgainst Love
Book:The Essential Martin Luther King, Jr.:
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“Now is the time to make real the promises of democracy. Now is the time to rise from the dark and desolate valley of segregation to the sunlit path of racial justice. Now is the time to lift our nation from the quicksands of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood. Now is the time to make justice a reality for all of God’s children.”

ChildrenRealOpportunityNationsJusticeDarkDemocracyPathDoorsRocksPromiseInjusticeLiftsValleysBrotherhoodSegregationI Had A DreamDesolateRacial JusticeI Have A Dream SpeechSoul ForceGradualism
Author:Martin Luther King, Jr.
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“I'm concerned about a better world. I'm concerned about justice; I'm concerned about brotherhood; I'm concerned about truth. And when one is concerned about that, he can never advocate violence. For through violence you may murder a murderer, but you can't murder murder. Through violence you may murder a liar, but you can't establish truth. Through violence you may murder a hater, but you can't murder hate through violence. Darkness cannot put out darkness; only light can do that.”

WorldMayLightMotivationalHateCan DoJusticeDarknessViolenceConcernedMurderLiarsBrotherhoodMurderer
Book:The Essential Martin Luther King, Jr.:
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“A true revolution of values will soon cause us to question the fairness and justice of many of our present policies... True compassion is more than flinging a coin to a beggar. A true revolution of values will soon look on uneasily upon the glaring contrast of poverty and wealth with righteous indignation.”

LooksValuesCausesWealthJusticeCompassionPovertyPolicyRevolutionContrastRighteousFairnessCoinsBeggarIndignationBreaking SilenceRighteous Indignation
Book:In a Single Garment of Destiny
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“We have deluded ourselves into believing the myth that capitalism grew and prospered out of the Protestant ethic of hard work and sacrifices. Capitalism was built on the exploitation of black slaves and continues to thrive on the exploitation of the poor, both black and white, both here and abroad.”

BelieveHardBlackJusticeWhitePoorSacrificeHard WorkGrewDiversityEthicsCapitalismBuiltSocial JusticeSlaveMythThriveBlack And WhiteExploitationProtestantsDeluded
Author:Martin Luther King, Jr.
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“I have almost reached the regrettable conclusion that the Negro's great stumbling block in the stride toward freedom is not the White Citizens Councilor or the Ku Klux Klanner but the white moderate who is more devoted to order than to justice; who prefers a negative peace which is the absence of tension to a positive peace which is the presence of justice.”

OrderPeaceJusticeWhiteCitizensDiversityNegativeSocial JusticeAbsenceBlockConclusionTensionDevotedModeratesDisobedienceStrideCivil DisobedienceStumblingLukewarmEconomic JusticeStumbling BlocksCreative Tension
Author:Martin Luther King, Jr.
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“We've got some difficult days ahead. But it doesn't matter with me now. Because I've been to the mountaintop. And I don't mind. Like anybody, I would like to live a long life. Longevity has its place. But I'm not concerned about that now. I just want to do God's will. And he's allowed me to go up to the mountaintop. And I've looked over. And I've seen the promised land.”

WantMindLongMatterDifficultJusticeLandDiversityConcernedSocial JusticeGods WillLongevityLong LifePromised LandDifficult Days
Author:Martin Luther King, Jr.
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“I think that my strong determination for justice comes from the very strong, dynamic personality of my father ... I have rarely ever met a person more fearless and courageous than my father ... The thing that I admire most about my dad is his genuine Christian character. He is a man of real integrity, deeply committed to moral and ethical principles. He is conscientious in all of his undertakings ... If I had a problem I could always call Daddy.”

IfsThinkingMenPersonsRealCharacterProblemChristianFatherStrongJusticeMoralPrinciplesPersonalityDadIntegrityMetsDeterminationMy DadCommittedGenuineAdmireFearlessCourageousEthicalVery StrongDaddyUndertakingsFathers DayEthical PrinciplesStrong DeterminationChristian CharacterDynamic Personality
Author:Martin Luther King, Jr.
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