Martin Luther King Jr – Quotes to Remember

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equality, Inspiration, justice, Martin Luther King jr, Peace, prejudice, quotes

I Have a Dream speech

When I first heard of Martin Luther King Jr. I was in the auditorium of my elementary school. I was just learning to speak English which was my second language. Even if at that tender age, I really couldn’t understand what his message was about or what the issues were, I remember being moved by the power of his voice and the respectful silence that would take place as students and teachers listened to his eloquent speeches.

His life was cut short, but his words lives on, and becomes more powerful as times goes by. When words, or a message has truth in it or a meaning that triggers change,  they survive the test of time.

I am sharing a few memorable quotes in his memory:

On Equality:

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.

Service:

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

“Everybody can be great…because anybody can serve. You don’t have to have a college degree to serve. You don’t have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love.”

Faith:

“Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase.”

“Only in the darkness can you see the stars.”

“We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope.”

Peace:

Peace is not merely a distant goal that we seek, but a means by which we arrive at that goal.

Love as means of change:

I have decided to stick to love…Hate is too great a burden to bear.

Determination:

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.

Forgiveness:

Forgiveness is not an occasional act, it is a constant attitude.

Doing the right thing:

On some positions, Cowardice asks the question, “Is it safe?” Expediency asks the question, “Is it politic?” And Vanity comes along and asks the question, “Is it popular?” But Conscience asks the question “Is it right?” And there comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular, but he must do it because Conscience tells him it is right.

Ignorance:

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.