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30 Quotes By Martin Luther King Jr. That Show How Exceptional He Was

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In this time of chaos, fear, and doubt, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s words bring calm, clarity, and unity.

January 15 should have been King’s 92nd birthday and Americans celebrated his legacy and what his words of wisdom mean now during the 35th annual MLK Day of Celebration on Monday, January 18. The pastor and humanitarian’s life was cut short when he was just 39 years old: he was shot and killed on April 4, 1968.

You can find some of MLK’s most important and poignant quotes, collected by Bored Panda, below. Upvote the ones that resonated the most with you and the ones that you think are especially important in these confusing times. Become a part of the discussion and share your thoughts about King’s ideas and his legacy in the comments.

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#1

30 Quotes By Martin Luther King Jr. That Show How Exceptional He Was "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."

Phil Stanziola Report

Final score:

62points

Yeet Twenty 3 years ago (edited)

R.I.P. Martin Luther King, if you were alive today you still wouldn't be happy with the ways some americans are today.

10points

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#2

30 Quotes By Martin Luther King Jr. That Show How Exceptional He Was "In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends."

Yoichi Okamoto Report

Final score:

60points

Natalia 3 years ago

So true.

10points

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#3

"If you can’t fly, run. If you can’t run, walk. If you can’t walk, crawl, but by all means, keep moving."

Final score:

50points

Annie Persson 3 years ago

"...and if you can't do that, you know the saying, if you can't do that, you get someone to carry you..."

2points

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A very recent documentary, MLK/FBI, released by director Sam Pollard and based on newly declassified files shows how the US government surveilled and harassed King: from wiretaps to suggestions that he should kill himself.

Meanwhile, King’s oldest son, Martin Luther King III, told CNN that his father would be disappointed with the US if he were still alive. “My father always believed in the people of our nation. Certainly, he would be greatly disappointed in how we have chosen to conduct ourselves at this particular moment,” he said. “He understood we are a United States of America, not a divided state of America, and he would be telling us we must turn to each other, not turn on each other.”

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Bored Panda spoke about the fight to end racism in the United States with positivity blogger and writer Shola Richards. According to Richards, the deaths of George Floyd on May 25, 2020, Breonna Taylor on March 13, and others “irrevocably jolted awake” many people to the reality of what life in the US is like for black people. However, he pointed out that real change is going to be a long journey that will not happen overnight or even in a single year.

#4

30 Quotes By Martin Luther King Jr. That Show How Exceptional He Was "Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that."

Nobel Foundation Report

Final score:

48points

Bardhi's Dad 3 years ago

The promoter of love became a victim of hatred. In such cases it may seem that evil prevails. But then you turn back and see where MLK is in the minds and hearts of the people and where those who killed and denied him are. You see what his achievement is and where those who wanted to stop him stand. And you don't even ask where those enemies of humanity and justice are. You simply know

8points

#5

"I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character"

Final score:

42points

Reginald Joseph 3 years ago

These are perhaps the words I have most often heard him so eloquently state--his beautiful, resonant voice speaking a universal truth we have yet to implement. I hope everyone who hears these words is moved to put them into action.

5points

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#6

"The time is always right to do what is right."

Final score:

41points

Reginald Joseph 3 years ago

Yes.

4points

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“My hope is that as many people as possible will continue to educate themselves on systemic racism by reading informative books, like ‘How to be an Anti-Racist’ by Ibram Kendi or ‘White Fragility’ by Robin DiAngelo. I hope that as many people as possible will continue to stand up to racism and show up as strong allies, despite some of their friends and family rolling their eyes at them for doing so,” Richards explained his hopes that the movement against systemic racism doesn’t fizzle out but continues through people educating themselves.

In Richards’ opinion, “people of all races” protesting together in large numbers is the most effective way to “demand meaningful change” in the country.

“I hope that people will continue to have important discussions about race, even though those discussions can be uncomfortable and difficult. Most of all, I hope that people won’t get tired, become discouraged, and quit on this long journey to reshape America. This is how we must fight racism, and as with anything meaningful, it’s going to require a lot of work.” Remember, change doesn’t happen overnight. But it’s worth the effort for a world with more humanity.

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#7

"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere."

Final score:

39points

Bardhi's Dad 3 years ago

This have to be repeated over and over again, all around the world

5points

#8

30 Quotes By Martin Luther King Jr. That Show How Exceptional He Was "An individual has not started living until he can rise above the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity."

Rowland Scherman Report

Final score:

38points

Celeste Grant 3 years ago

This one is so very relevant to today's society; there are many selfish people who refuse to acknowledge their social responsibilities.

5points

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#9

“Never, never be afraid to do what’s right, especially if the well-being of a person or animal is at stake. Society’s punishments are small compared to the wounds we inflict on our soul when we look the other way.”

Final score:

38points

alwaysMispelled 3 years ago

Perfect words.

6points

#10

"We have deluded ourselves into believing the myth that capitalism grew and prospered out of the Protestant ethic of hard work and sacrifices. The fact is that capitalism was built on the exploitation and suffering of black slaves and continues to thrive on the exploitation of the poor — both black and white, both here and abroad."

Final score:

35points

Monica Michelle 3 years ago

I want this one on all government buildings. This morning at be understood by those who make policies

2points

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#11

30 Quotes By Martin Luther King Jr. That Show How Exceptional He Was "Nonviolence is a powerful and just weapon. Indeed, it is a weapon unique in history, which cuts without wounding and ennobles the man who wields it."

Minnesota Historical Society Report

Final score:

33points

Omar Pearson 3 years ago

If only that were truly true because I've seen a lot in this country.

1point

#12

30 Quotes By Martin Luther King Jr. That Show How Exceptional He Was "I have decided to stick with love. ... Hate is too great a burden to bear."

Dick DeMarsico/Library Of Congress Report

Final score:

33points

tuzdayschild 3 years ago

Me too

10points

#13

30 Quotes By Martin Luther King Jr. That Show How Exceptional He Was "The more there are riots, the more repressive action will take place, and the more we face the danger of a right-wing takeover and eventually a fascist society."

Rowland Scherman Report

Final score:

32points

tuzdayschild 3 years ago

Too soon

7points

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#14

“Nothing in all the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity.”

Final score:

31points

rerocherry 3 years ago

This alarmingly hits a little too close to home

1point

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#15

"The function of education, therefore, is to teach one to live intensively and to think critically. ... Intelligence plus character — that is the goal of true education."

Final score:

29points

Reginald Joseph 3 years ago

We are falling so far behind in education. All this talk of supporting families and communities, but yet education is continually on the chopping block when it is the basis of everything worthwhile in society.

5points

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#16

"History will have to record that the greatest tragedy of this period of social transition was not the strident clamor of the bad people, but the appalling silence of the good people."

Final score:

29points

Reginald Joseph 3 years ago

The most evil is done when good people fail to act.

6points

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#17

"Rarely do we find men who willingly engage in hard, solid thinking. There is an almost universal quest for easy answers and half-baked solutions. Nothing pains some people more than having to think."

Final score:

28points

Carole Deem 3 years ago

I was a stupid, young kid when this man was alive. I wish I could have heard him speak. Do you think James Earl Jones could be persuaded to make recordings of his speeches. I think his voice would be a great tribute to the words.

2points

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#18

"Never succumb to the temptation of becoming bitter."

Final score:

27points

Reginald Joseph 3 years ago

I find this one incredibly difficult to master, but he is right.

3points

#19

30 Quotes By Martin Luther King Jr. That Show How Exceptional He Was "Shallow understanding from people of good will is more frustrating than absolute misunderstanding from people of ill will."

Marion S. Trikosko Report

Final score:

27points

Omar Pearson 3 years ago

Poignant words still so fitting today.

6points

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#20

30 Quotes By Martin Luther King Jr. That Show How Exceptional He Was "We must accept finite disappointment but never lose infinite hope."

Southern Baptist Theological Seminary Report

Final score:

26points

Omar Pearson 3 years ago

Regardless of his wisdom and foresight, they had him killed anyway.

2points

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#21

"If a man hasn’t discovered something that he will die for, he isn’t fit to live."

Final score:

26points

Random Person 3 years ago

Woah.

4points

#22

"He who passively accepts evil is as much involved in it as he who helps to perpetrate it. He who accepts evil without protesting against it is really cooperating with it."

Final score:

26points

Reginald Joseph 3 years ago

Absolutely. Look at the last four years of Trump's war against America. All the racists he has allowed and encouraged to come out of the woodwork who used to hide in dark corners. The harm he has done and the normalization of lies, cruelty, bigotry and racism will take great love and work to overcome.

8points

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#23

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

Final score:

26points

Random Person 3 years ago

Good way to look at it.

5points

#24

"Forgiveness is not an occasional act; it is a permanent attitude."

Final score:

25points

#25

"The ultimate tragedy ... was not the brutality of the bad people, but the silence of the good people."

Final score:

23points

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#26

"There comes a time when we must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular, but one must take it because it is right."

Final score:

23points

#27

30 Quotes By Martin Luther King Jr. That Show How Exceptional He Was "Like anybody, I would like to live a long life — longevity has its place. But I'm not concerned about that now. I just want to do God's will."

Rowland Scherman Report

Final score:

22points

alwaysMispelled 3 years ago

Imagine the good he would've gone on to accomplish, how much farther he could've advanced the rights of black people, had he not been assassinated

5points

#28

"Change does not roll in on the wheels of inevitability, but comes through continuous struggle."

Final score:

22points

Carole Deem 3 years ago

How do you read these and not end up in tears.

4points

#29

“That old law about ‘an eye for an eye’ leaves everybody blind. The time is always right to do the right thing.”

Final score:

22points

#30

"Nonviolence is absolute commitment to the way of love. Love is not emotional bash; it is not empty sentimentalism. It is the active outpouring of one’s whole being into the being of another."

Final score:

16points

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#31

“Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.”

Final score:

10points

#32

“The soft-minded man always fears change. He feels security in the status quo, and he has an almost morbid fear of the new. For him, the greatest pain is the pain of a new idea.”

Final score:

10points

#33

"I came to the conclusion that there is an existential moment in your life when you must decide to speak for yourself; nobody else can speak for you."

Final score:

9points

#34

"We cannot walk alone."

Final score:

9points

#35

"Our scientific power has outrun our spiritual power. We have guided missiles and misguided men."

Final score:

9points

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#36

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

Final score:

9points

#37

"We may have all come on different ships, but we're in the same boat now."

Final score:

9points

#38

“Science investigates; religion interprets. Science gives man knowledge, which is power; religion gives man wisdom, which is control. Science deals mainly with facts; religion deals mainly with values. The two are not rivals.”

Final score:

9points

#39

“I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality. This is why right, temporarily defeated, is stronger than evil triumphant.”

Final score:

9points

#40

“The art of acceptance is the art of making someone who has just done you a small favor wish that he might have done you a greater one.”

Final score:

9points

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#41

“People fail to get along because they fear each other; they fear each other because they don’t know each other; they don’t know each other because they have not communicated with each other.”

Final score:

9points

#42

"I think that we've got to see that a riot is the language of the unheard. And, what is it that America has failed to hear? It has failed to hear that the economic plight of the Negro poor has worsened over the last few years."

Final score:

8points

Kira Okah 3 years ago

"Let me say as I've always said, and I will always continue to say, that riots are socially destructive and self-defeating. I'm still convinced that nonviolence is the most potent weapon available to oppressed people in their struggle for freedom and justice. I feel that violence will only create more social problems than they will solve. That in a real sense it is impracticable for the Negro to even think of mounting a violent revolution in the United States. So I will continue to condemn riots, and continue to say to my brothers and sisters that this is not the way. And continue to affirm that there is another way."

0points

#43

"Why is equality so assiduously avoided? Why does white America delude itself, and how does it rationalize the evil it retains?"

Final score:

8points

#44

"No, no, we are not satisfied, and we will not be satisfied until justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream."

Final score:

8points

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#45

"The problems of racial injustice and economic injustice cannot be solved without a radical redistribution of political and economic power."

Final score:

8points

qwerty 3 years ago

MLK Jr. also supported raising the minimum wage.

3points

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#46

"When machines and computers, profit motives and property rights are considered more important than people, the giant triplets of racism, extreme materialism, and militarism are incapable of being conquered."

Final score:

8points

#47

"The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice."

Final score:

8points

#48

“There can be no deep disappointment where there is not deep love.”

Final score:

8points

#49

“Almost always, the creative dedicated minority has made the world better.”

Final score:

8points

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#50

"The Negro has no room to make any substantial compromises because his store of advantages is too small. He must press unrelentingly for quality, integrated education or his whole drive for freedom will be undermined by the absence of a most vital and indispensable element — learning."

Final score:

7points

#51

“Every man must decide whether he will walk in the light of creative altruism or in the darkness of destructive selfishness. ”

Final score:

7points

#52

“Man must evolve for all human conflict a method which rejects revenge, aggression and retaliation. The foundation of such a method is love.”

Final score:

7points

#53

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

Final score:

7points

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#54

“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.”

Final score:

7points

Reginald Joseph 3 years ago

This is so true

1point

#55

“When you are right you cannot be too radical; when you are wrong, you cannot be too conservative. ”

Final score:

7points

#56

“Human progress is neither automatic nor inevitable… Every step toward the goal of justice requires sacrifice, suffering, and struggle; the tireless exertions and passionate concern of dedicated individuals.”

Final score:

7points

#57

"He who is devoid of the power to forgive is devoid of the power to love."

Final score:

6points

#58

"Instead of making history, we are made by history."

Final score:

6points

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#59

"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 in reality."

Final score:

6points

#60

"It is no longer a choice between violence and nonviolence. It is either nonviolence or nonexistence."

Final score:

6points

#61

"The past is prophetic in that it asserts loudly that wars are poor chisels for carving out peaceful tomorrows."

Final score:

6points

#62

“We must use time creatively, in the knowledge that the time is always ripe to do right.”

Final score:

6points

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#63

“All labor that uplifts humanity has dignity and importance and should be undertaken with painstaking excellence.”

Final score:

6points

#64

“There comes a time when people get tired of being pushed out of the glittering sunlight of life’s July and left standing amid the piercing chill of an alpine November.”

Final score:

6points

#65

“If the cruelties of slavery could not stop us, the opposition we now face will surely fail. Because the goal of America is freedom, abused and scorned tho’ we may be, our destiny is tied up with America’s destiny.”

Final score:

6points

#66

"No one really knows why they are alive until they know what they'd die for."

Final score:

5points

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#67

"A lie cannot live."

Final score:

4points

#68

“Whatever your life’s work is, do it well. A man should do his job so well that the living, the dead, and the unborn could do it no better. ”

Final score:

4points

#69

“You will change your mind; You will change your looks; You will change your smile, laugh, and ways but no matter what you change, you will always be you.”

Final score:

3points

Jonas Grinevičius

Storytelling, journalism, and art are a core part of who I am. I've been writing and drawing ever since I could walk—there is nothing else I'd rather do. My formal education, however, is focused on politics, philosophy, and economics because I've always been curious about the gap between the ideal and the real. At work, I'm a Senior Writer and I cover a broad range of topics that I'm passionate about: from psychology and changes in work culture to healthy living, relationships, and design. In my spare time, I'm an avid hiker and reader, enjoy writing short stories, and love to doodle. I thrive when I'm outdoors, going on small adventures in nature. However, you can also find me enjoying a big mug of coffee with a good book (or ten) and entertaining friends with fantasy tabletop games and sci-fi movies.

Storytelling, journalism, and art are a core part of who I am. I've been writing and drawing ever since I could walk—there is nothing else I'd rather do. My formal education, however, is focused on politics, philosophy, and economics because I've always been curious about the gap between the ideal and the real. At work, I'm a Senior Writer and I cover a broad range of topics that I'm passionate about: from psychology and changes in work culture to healthy living, relationships, and design. In my spare time, I'm an avid hiker and reader, enjoy writing short stories, and love to doodle. I thrive when I'm outdoors, going on small adventures in nature. However, you can also find me enjoying a big mug of coffee with a good book (or ten) and entertaining friends with fantasy tabletop games and sci-fi movies.

Ilona Baliūnaitė

I'm a Visual Editor at Bored Panda since 2017. I've searched through a multitude of images to create over 2000 diverse posts on a wide range of topics. I love memes, funny, and cute stuff, but I'm also into social issues topics. Despite my background in communication, my heart belongs to visual media, especially photography. When I'm not at my desk, you're likely to find me in the streets with my camera, checking out cool exhibitions, watching a movie at the cinema or just chilling with a coffee in a cozy place

I'm a Visual Editor at Bored Panda since 2017. I've searched through a multitude of images to create over 2000 diverse posts on a wide range of topics. I love memes, funny, and cute stuff, but I'm also into social issues topics. Despite my background in communication, my heart belongs to visual media, especially photography. When I'm not at my desk, you're likely to find me in the streets with my camera, checking out cool exhibitions, watching a movie at the cinema or just chilling with a coffee in a cozy place

What do you think ?

Aragorn II Elessar 3 years ago

Rest In Peace, Dr. King.

8points

tuzdayschild 3 years ago

“Take the first step in faith. You don't have to see the whole staircase. Just take the first step.”

8points

Amy Begun Saab 3 years ago

Everything he said is as relevant today as it was back then. What an incredible speaker.

6points

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Aragorn II Elessar 3 years ago

Rest In Peace, Dr. King.

8points

tuzdayschild 3 years ago

“Take the first step in faith. You don't have to see the whole staircase. Just take the first step.”

8points

Amy Begun Saab 3 years ago

Everything he said is as relevant today as it was back then. What an incredible speaker.

6points

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