Quotes about Justice
I have the audacity to believe that peoples everywhere can have three meals a day for their bodies, education and culture of their minds, and dignity, equality, and freedom for their spirits. I believe that what self-centered men have torn down, men other-centered can build up I still believe that one day mankind will bow before the altars of God and be crowned triumphant over war and bloodshed, and nonviolent redemptive goodwill will proclaim the rule of the land.
— Martin Luther King, Jr.
He who passively accepts evil is as much involved in it as he who helps to perpetrate it.
— Martin Luther King, Jr.
Cowardice asks the question, 'Is it safe?' Expediency asks the question, 'Is it politic?' Vanity 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 one must take it because one's conscience tells one that it is right
— Martin Luther King, Jr.
Human progress never rolls in on the wheels of inevitability; it comes through the tireless efforts of [people] willing to be co-workers with God.
— Martin Luther King, Jr.
A man who does not have something for which he is willing to die is not fit to live.
— Martin Luther King, Jr.
Now, I say to you today my friends, even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream. I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: - 'We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.
— Martin Luther King, Jr.
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. So I'm happy tonight. I'm not worried about anything. I'm not fearing any man.
— Martin Luther King, Jr.
In our glorious fight for civil rights, we must guard against being fooled by false slogans, such as 'right-to-work.' It provides no 'rights' and no 'works.' Its purpose is to destroy labor unions and the freedom of collective bargaining…. We demand this fraud be stopped.
— Martin Luther King, Jr.
The whirlwinds of revolt will continue to shake the foundations of our nation until the bright day of justice emerges.
— Martin Luther King, Jr.
Nonviolence is the answer to the crucial political and moral questions of our time: the need for man to overcome oppression and violence without resorting to oppression and violence. Man must evolve for all human conflict a method which rejects revenge, aggression and retaliation. The foundation of such a method is love.
— Martin Luther King, Jr.
I say to you today, my friends, that in spite of the difficulties and frustrations of the moment, I still have a dream.
— Martin Luther King, Jr.
We who engage in nonviolent direct action are not the creators of tension. We merely bring to the surface hidden tension that is already alive
— Martin Luther King, Jr.