We all want to be important, to surpass others, to achieve distinction, to lead the parade.
Let us realize the arc of the moral universe is long but it bends toward justice.”Īddress to the Southern Christian Leadership Conference on August 16, 1967ĩ. “When our days become dreary with low-hovering clouds of despair, and when our nights become darker than a thousand midnights, let us remember that there is a creative force in this universe, working to pull down the gigantic mountains of evil, a power that is able to make a way out of no way and transform dark yesterdays into bright tomorrows. Sermon at Temple Israel of Hollywood in June 1965Ĩ. We must always maintain a kind of divine discontent.” It all boils down to the fact that we must never allow ourselves to become satisfied with unattained goals. It is necessary to move on now, but only by moving out of this mountain can we move to the promised land of justice and brotherhood and the Kingdom of God. We’ve been in the mountain of hatred long enough. Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech, December 10, 1964ħ. That is why right, temporarily defeated, is stronger than evil triumphant.” “I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality. Speech at the Lincoln Memorial on August 28, 1963Ħ.
The true measure of a man free#
“When we let freedom ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual, 'Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!' " And I submit to you that if a man has not discovered something that he will die for, he isn’t fit to live.”ĥ. “There are some things so dear, some things so precious, some things so eternally true, that they are worth dying for. The true neighbor will risk his position, his prestige, and even his life for the welfare of others.”Ĥ. “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. Letter from Birmingham Jail, April 16, 1963ģ. “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” And we are determined here in Montgomery to work and fight until justice runs down like water, and righteousness like a mighty stream."Īddress at Holt Street Baptist Church, Montgomery, Alabama, 1955Ģ. If we are wrong, justice is a lie, love has no meaning. If we are wrong, Jesus of Nazareth was merely a utopian dreamer that never came down to Earth. And if we are wrong, God Almighty is wrong. If we are wrong, the Constitution of the United States is wrong. If we are wrong, the Supreme Court of this nation is wrong.
“We are not wrong, we are not wrong in what we are doing. If you want to read more quotes, check out the resources at the end of this story. Each section contains a link to the original source. The quotes come from public speeches given by King, a letter, and one of his books. Here are 10 statements from King’s 13-year career as a public figure that defined his quest.
was one of the most quotable speakers of the 20th century.
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