On January 19 we are invited to remember and celebrate the life and witness of a brother in Christ - Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. He was and is an easily quotable man. As I was looking for a particular quote from him today I ran across many others that inspired me or made me think more deeply. I share them here with you in remembrance and celebration.
Great Quotes from Martin Luther King, Jr.
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.
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.
Have we not come to such an impasse in the modern world that we must love our enemies - or else? The chain reaction of evil - hate begetting hate, wars producing more wars - must be broken, or else we shall be plunged into the dark abyss of annihilation.
Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase.
Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.
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.
A genuine leader is not a searcher for consensus but a molder of consensus.
A riot is the language of the unheard.
I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear.
Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into friend.
Our scientific power has outrun our spiritual power. We have guided missiles and misguided men.
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.
We must develop and maintain the capacity to forgive. He who is devoid of the power to forgive is devoid of the power to love. There is some good in the worst of us and some evil in the best of us. When we discover this, we are less prone to hate our enemies.
