The quotations of

Martin Luther King Jr.

American Baptist minister and civil rights leader

1929–1968

84 quotes, most often on Race, War & Peace and Love.

True pacifism is not unrealistic submission to an evil power…it is rather a courageous confrontation with evil by the power of love, in the faith that it is better to be the recipient of violence than the inflicter of it, since the latter only multiplies the existence of violence and bitterness in the universe, while the former may develop a sense of shame in the opponent, and thereby bring about a transformation and change of heart.
- War & Peace
Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into friend.
Loving Your Enemies (Christmas 1957)
- Friendship
- Love
A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual death.
“Beyond Vietnam”, Riverside Church, New York (4 April 1967)
- Politics
There is nothing more tragic than to find an individual bogged down in the length of life, devoid of breadth.
- Life & Death
Our scientific power has outrun our spiritual power. We have guided missiles and misguided men.
Strength to Love, Chapter 7
- Morality
- Science
A nation or civilization that continues to produce soft-minded men purchases its own spiritual death on the installment plan.
Strength to Love (1963), Ch. 1: A tough mind and a tender heart
- Men
Before the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth, we were here. Before the pen of Jefferson etched across the pages of history the majestic words of the Declaration of Independence, we were here. If the inexpressible cruelties of slavery could not stop us, the opposition we now face will surely fail.
- Race
- Slavery
Every man must decide whether he will walk in the light of creative altruism or in the darkness of destructive selfishness.
Conquering Self-centeredness (1957)
- Charity
All labor that uplifts humanity has dignity and importance and should be undertaken with painstaking excellence.
Martin Luther King, Jr. in: Heavenly Wisdom: Talent, Imagination, Creativity and Wisdom, Author House, 8 July 2013, p. 304
- Work
Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.
“Loving Your Enemies”, Strength to Love (1963)
- Love
Nothing in the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity.
Strength to Love (1963), Ch. 4: Love in action, Sct. 3
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.
Letter from a Birmingham Jail (1963)
- Laws
The Negro needs the white man to free him from his fears. The white man needs the Negro to free him from his guilt.
- Race
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.
Nobel Prize acceptance speech (1964)
I am not interested in power for power’s sake, but I’m interested in power that is moral, that is right and that is good.
- Morality

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