The quality, not the longevity, of one's life is what is important. Martin Luther King, Jr. More Quotes by Martin Luther King, Jr. More Quotes From Martin Luther King, Jr. Freedom has always been an expensive thing. History is fit testimony to the fact that freedom is rarely gained without sacrifice and self-denial. Martin Luther King, Jr. denialsacrificeself One of the greatest casualties of the war in Vietnam is the Great Society... shot down on the battlefield of Vietnam. Martin Luther King, Jr. vietnamsocietywar If we are going to achieve a real equality, the U.S. will have to adopt a modified form of Socialism. Martin Luther King, Jr. socialismachievereal The moral arc of the universe bends at the elbow of justice. Martin Luther King, Jr. sadelbowsjustice Freedom only comes through persistent revolt, through persistent agitation, through persistently rising up against the system of evil. Martin Luther King, Jr. agitationrising-upevil Those who are not looking for happiness are the most likely to find it, because those who are searching forget that the surest way to be happy is to seek happiness for others. Martin Luther King, Jr. self-esteembeing-happyhappiness It is a tragic mix-up when the United States spends 500,000 for every enemy soldier killed, and only 53 annually on the victims of poverty. Martin Luther King, Jr. soldierwarenemy Our children need our presence, not our presents. Martin Luther King, Jr. our-childrenchildrenneeds Nonviolence means avoiding not only external physical violence but also internal violence of spirit. You not only refuse to shoot a man, but you refuse to hate him. Martin Luther King, Jr. freedomhatepeace I always had a deep affection for Malcolm and felt that he had a great ability to put his finger on the existence and the root of the problem. He was an eloquent spokesman for his point of view and no one can honestly doubt that Malcolm had a great concern for the problems we face as a race. Martin Luther King, Jr. deep-affectionraceviews Love is creative, understanding goodwill for all men. It is the refusal to defeat any individual. When you rise to the level of love, of its great beauty and power, you seek only to defeat evil systems. Individuals who happen to be caught up in that system, you love, but you seek to defeat the system. Martin Luther King, Jr. love-ismenlife Jesus Christ was an extremist for love, truth and goodness. Martin Luther King, Jr. goodnessjesuschrist If a man hasn't discovered something that he will die for, he isn't fit to live. Martin Luther King, Jr. faithinspirationaldeath Courage is the power of the mind to overcome fear. Martin Luther King, Jr. couragefearmind Morality cannot be legislated, but behavior can be regulated. Judicial decrees may not change the heart, but they can restrain the heartless. Martin Luther King, Jr. politicalheartmay If our economic system is to survive, there has to be a better distribution of wealth ... we can't have a system where some people live in superfluous, inordinate wealth, while others live in abject deadening poverty. Martin Luther King, Jr. distribution-of-wealthpovertypeople On the one hand we are called to play the good Samaritan on life's roadside; but that will be only an initial act. One day we must come to see that the whole Jericho road must be transformed so that men and women will not be constantly beaten and robbed as they make their journey on life's highway. True compassion is more than flinging a coin to a beggar; it is not haphazard and superficial. It comes to see that an edifice which produces beggars needs restructuring. "A Time to Break Silence," at Riverside Church Martin Luther King, Jr. compassionjourneymen Intelligence plus character-that is the goal of true education. Martin Luther King, Jr. educationcharacterschool The ability to lead a happy life is made, not found Martin Luther King, Jr. mind-your-own-businesslife-ishappy-life 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. selfishcreativityintegrity
