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Martin Luther King, Jr.

64 quotes

Martin Luther King Jr. (1929–1968) was an American Baptist minister and activist who became the most visible leader of the Civil Rights Movement. His philosophy of nonviolent resistance and his extraordinary gift for oratory — exemplified by his "I Have a Dream" speech — changed the course of American history and earned him the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964.

“Our scientific power has outrun our spiritual power. We have guided missiles and misguided men.”

— Martin Luther King, Jr.

Men

All Quotes by Martin Luther King, Jr.

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

— Martin Luther King, Jr.

Good

“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 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

“It may be true that the law cannot make a man love me, but it can keep him from lynching me, and I think that's pretty important.”

— Martin Luther King, Jr.

Love

“Whatever your life's work is, do it well. A man should do his job so well that the living, the dead, and the unborn could do it no better.”

— Martin Luther King, Jr.

Life

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

— Martin Luther King, Jr.

Great

“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

“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

“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

“Our scientific power has outrun our spiritual power. We have guided missiles and misguided men.”

— Martin Luther King, Jr.

Men

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

— Martin Luther King, Jr.

History

“That old law about 'an eye for an eye' leaves everybody blind. The time is always right to do the right thing.”

— Martin Luther King, Jr.

Time

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

— Martin Luther King, Jr.

Hope

“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

“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

“Peace is not merely a distant goal that we seek, but a means by which we arrive at that goal.”

— Martin Luther King, Jr.

Peace

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

— Martin Luther King, Jr.

Learning

“We have guided missiles and misguided men.”

— Martin Luther King, Jr.

Men

“At the center of non-violence stands the principle of love.”

— Martin Luther King, Jr.

Love