In honor of his day, here are some Martin Luther King quotes. I am afraid that simply quoting him somehow trivializes what Dr. King accomplished. But his quotes are so powerful that they are worth considering on their own. As you read these, please keep in mind that Dr. King always rejected violence.
Please never think that the ideas Dr. King offered could possibly be a basis for violence. Indeed, to use violence would be to completely reject Dr. King’s teachings.
• Hatred paralyzes life; love releases it. Hatred confuses life; love harmonizes it. Hatred darkens life; love illuminates it.
• I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality. That is why right, temporarily defeated, is stronger than evil triumphant.
• Let no man pull you low enough to hate him.
• Returning violence for violence multiplies violence, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars . . . Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.
• I submit that an individual who breaks a law that conscience tells him is unjust, and who willingly accepts the penalty of imprisonment in order to arouse the conscience of the community over its injustice, is in reality expressing the highest respect for the law.
• When you are right you cannot be too radical; when you are wrong, you cannot be too conservative.
• Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.
• The good neighbor looks beyond the external accidents and discerns those inner qualities that make all men human and, therefore, brothers.
• I submit to you that if a man hasn’t discovered something he will die for, he isn’t fit to live.
• 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.