A nation or civilization that continues to produce soft-minded men purchases its own spiritual death on the instalment plan.

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.

I submit to you that if a man hasn’t discovered something that he will die for, he isn’t fit to live.

Never succumb to the temptation of bitterness.

A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual doom.

It may be true that the law cannot make a man love me, but it can keep him from lynching me, and I think that’s pretty important.

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

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.

Take the first step in faith. You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.

There comes a time when people get tired of being trampled by the iron feet of oppression … If we are wrong, the Supreme Court of this nation is wrong. If we are wrong, the Constitution of the United States is wrong. And if we are wrong, God Almighty is wrong. If we are wrong, Jesus of Nazareth was merely a utopian dreamer that never came down to Earth. If we are wrong, justice is a lie, love has no meaning… work and fight until justice runs down like water, and righteousness like a mighty stream.

The quality, not the longevity, of one’s life is what is important.

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.

One who breaks an unjust 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 law.

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

At the center of non-violence stands the principle of love.

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. And He’s allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I’ve looked over. And I’ve seen the Promised Land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the promised land!

The time is always right to do what is right.

Everything that we see is a shadow cast by that which we do not see.

The means by which we live have outdistanced the ends for which we live. Our scientific power has outrun our spiritual power. We have guided missiles and misguided men.

Seeing is not always believing.