It is our experience that the nation doesn't move around questions of genuine equality for the poor and for black people until it is confronted massively, dramatically in terms of direct action. Martin Luther King, Jr. More Quotes by Martin Luther King, Jr. More Quotes From Martin Luther King, Jr. Any nation or government that deprives an individual of freedom is in that moment committing an act of moral and spiritual murder. Any individual who is not concerned about his freedom commits an act of moral and spiritual suicide. Martin Luther King, Jr. governmentsuicidespiritual the universe is under the control of a loving purpose, and that in the struggle for righteousness man has cosmic companionship (angels). Behind the harsh appearance of the world there is a benign power. Martin Luther King, Jr. angelstrugglemen The way of acquiescence leads to moral and spiritual suicide. The way of violence leads to bitterness in the survivors and brutality in the destroyers. But, the way of nonviolence leads to redemption and the creation of the beloved community. Martin Luther King, Jr. beloved-communitysuicidespiritual I would be the last to condemn the thousands of sincere and dedicated people outside the churches who have labored unselfishly through various humanitarian movements to cure the world of social evils, for I would rather a man be a committed humanist than an uncommitted Christian. Martin Luther King, Jr. christianmenpeople Like a boil that must be opened with all its ugliness to the natural medicines of air and light, injustice must be exposed to the light of human conscience before it can be cured. Martin Luther King, Jr. medicinelightair Normal fear protects us; abnormal fear paralyses us. Normal fear motivates us to improve our individual and collective welfare; abnormal fear constantly poisons and distorts our inner lives. Our problem is not to be rid of fear but, rather to harness and master it. Martin Luther King, Jr. abnormalpoisonproblem A right delayed is a right denied. Martin Luther King, Jr. rejectionrightsinspirational All life is interrelated. The agony of the poor impoverishes the rich; the betterment of the poor enriches the rich. We are inevitably our brother's keeper because we are our brother's brother. Whatever affects one directly affects all indirectly. Martin Luther King, Jr. agonybrotherjustice Before the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth, we were here. Before the pen of Jefferson etched across the pages of history the majestic words of the Declaration of Independence, we were here. Martin Luther King, Jr. independencehistoricalinspirational And before you finish eating breakfast in the morning, you've depended on more than half of the world. This is the way our universe is structured, this is its interrelated quality. Martin Luther King, Jr. qualitymorningreality 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. Martin Luther King, Jr. sacrificehealingtwo When evil men burn and bomb, good men must build and bind. Martin Luther King, Jr. good-manevilmen We have before us the glorious opportunity to inject a new dimension of love into the veins of our civilization. Martin Luther King, Jr. inspirationallovepeace Everyone can be great, because everyone can serve. Martin Luther King, Jr. motivationcommunityhelping-others The old law of an eye for an eye leaves everyone blind. It destroys communities and makes humanity impossible. It creates bitterness in the survivors and brutality in the destroyers... In winning our freedom, we will so appeal to you heart and conscience that we will win you in the process. Martin Luther King, Jr. eyewinningheart The method of nonviolence seeks not to humiliate and not to defeat the oppressor, but it seeks to win his friendship and his understanding. And thereby and therefore the aftermath of this method is reconciliation. Martin Luther King, Jr. aftermathunderstandingwinning By...our readiness to allow arms to be purchased at will and fired at whim; by allowing our movie and television screens to teach our children that the hero is one who masters the art of shooting and the technique of killing...we have created an atmosphere in which violence and hatred have become popular pastimes. Martin Luther King, Jr. herochildrenart A second thing that an individual must do in seeking to love his enemy is to discover the element of good in his enemy, and everytime you begin to hate that person and think of hating that person, realize that there is some good there and look at those good points which will over-balance the bad points. Martin Luther King, Jr. hateenemythinking And I say to you, I have decided to stick with love, for I know that love is ultimately the only answer to mankind's problems. And I'm going to talk about it everywhere I go. For I have seen too Martin Luther King, Jr. hatepersonalitylove-is What good is having the right to sit at a lunch counter if you can't afford to buy a hamburger? Martin Luther King, Jr. hamburgersdemocracylunch
