Individual rights are not subject to a public vote. A majority has no right to vote away the rights of a minority. The political function of rights is precisely to protect minorities from oppression by majorities, and the smallest minority on earth is the individual.

To abstain from condemning a torturer, is to become an accessory to the torture and murder of his victims.

One can't be punished for being good. One can't be penalized for ability. If that is right, then we'd better start slaughtering one another, because there isn't any right at all in the world!

We shall awaken from our dullness and rise vigorously toward justice. If we fall in love with creation deeper and deeper, we will respond to its endangerment with passion.

God is not satisfied with appearance. God wants the garment of justice. God wants his Christians dressed in love.

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.

All I want is the same thing you want. To have a nation with a government that is as good and honest and decent and competent and compassionate and as filled with love as are the American people.

We are each made for goodness, love and compassion. Our lives are transformed as much as the world is when we live with these truths.

Our society is illuminated by the spiritual insights of the Hebrew prophets. America and Israel have a common love of human freedom, and they have a common faith in a democratic way of life.

Every single human being is created in the image of God; created for dignity, created for the Father's love, created for kindness, created for mercy.

If our love of God does not directly influence, and even change, how we engage in the issues of our time on this earth, I wonder what good religion is.

The government can't make people love me, but it can keep them from lynching me.