22 Powerful and Inspiring Martin Luther King Jr. Quotes

The potential beauty of human life is constantly made ugly by man's ever-recurring song of retaliation.

Science investigates religion interprets. Science gives man knowledge which is power religion gives man wisdom which is control.

Morality cannot be legislated, but behavior can be regulated. Judicial decrees may not change the heart, but they can restrain the heartless.

The non-violent resistor not only avoids external, physical violence, but he avoids internal violence of spirit. He not only refuses to shoot his opponent, but he refuses to hate him. And he stands with understanding, goodwill at all times

One who breaks an unjust law must do so openly, lovingly, and with a willingness to accept the penalty.

We all too often have socialism for the rich and rugged free market capitalism for the poor.

We must build dikes of courage to hold back the flood of fear.

I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made straight and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together.

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

Democracy transformed from thin paper to thick action is the greatest form of government on earth.

If you can’t fly, then run, if you can't run, then walk, if you can't walk, then crawl, but whatever you do, you have to keep moving forward.

We must concentrate not merely on the negative expulsion of war but the postive affirmation of peace.

The nonviolent approach does not immediately change the heart of the oppressor. It first does something to the hearts and souls of those committed to it. It gives them new self-respect; it calls up resources of strength and courage they did not know they had.

No work is insignificant. All labor that uplifts humanity has dignity and importance and should be undertaken with painstaking excellence.

Let no man pull you so low as to hate him.

If I cannot do great things, I can do small things in a great way.

The question is not whether we will be extremists, but what kind of extremists we will be... The nation and the world are in dire need of creative extremists.

Courage breeds creativity; Cowardice represses fear and is mastered by it.

We were taking the black young men who had been crippled by our society and sending them eight thousand miles away to guarantee liberties in Southeast Asia which they had not found in southwest Georgia and East Harlem.

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.