Quotes by Martin Luther King, Jr.

Life's most persistent and urgent question is, 'What are you doing for others?'

— Martin Luther King, Jr.

Life

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

— Martin Luther King, Jr.

Love

Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into friend.

— Martin Luther King, Jr.

Love

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

— Martin Luther King, Jr.

Wisdom

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.

Love

The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.

— Martin Luther King, Jr.

Wisdom

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.

Hope

I refuse to accept the view that mankind is so tragically bound to the starless midnight of racism and war that the bright daybreak of peace and brotherhood can never become a reality... I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word.

— Martin Luther King, Jr.

Love

The time is always right to do what is right.

— Martin Luther King, Jr.

Wisdom

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.

— Martin Luther King, Jr.

Success

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.

Success

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

— Martin Luther King, Jr.

Love

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

— Martin Luther King, Jr.

Hope

In the End, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.

— Martin Luther King, Jr.

Friendship

We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools.

— Martin Luther King, Jr.

Education

Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.

— Martin Luther King, Jr.

Wisdom

Nothing in all the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity.

— Martin Luther King, Jr.

Life

We may have all come on different ships, but we're in the same boat now.

— Martin Luther King, Jr.

Wisdom

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.

Success

Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.

— Martin Luther King, Jr.

Wisdom

Every man must decide whether he will walk in the light of creative altruism or in the darkness of destructive selfishness.

— Martin Luther King, Jr.

Wisdom

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.

Wisdom

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

— Martin Luther King, Jr.

Wisdom

I look to a day when people will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.

— Martin Luther King, Jr.

Wisdom