The quality, not the longevity, of one's life is what is important.
A nation or civilization that continues to produce soft-minded men purchases its own spiritual death on the installment plan.
Peace is not merely a distant goal that we seek, but a means by which we arrive at that goal.
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.
One of the greatest casualties of the war in Vietnam is the Great Society... shot down on the battlefield of Vietnam.
Never forget that everything Hitler did in Germany was legal.
The time is always right to do what is right.
Freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor it must be demanded by the oppressed.
There is nothing more tragic than to find an individual bogged down in the length of life, devoid of breadth.
Our scientific power has outrun our spiritual power. We have guided missiles and misguided men.
We must use time creatively.
Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into friend.
Life's most persistent and urgent question is, 'What are you doing for others?'
Darkness cannot drive out darkness only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate only love can do that.
The art of acceptance is the art of making someone who has just done you a small favor wish that he might have done you a greater one.
The hottest place in Hell is reserved for those who remain neutral in times of great moral conflict.
That old law about 'an eye for an eye' leaves everybody blind. The time is always right to do the right thing.
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.
We are not makers of history. We are made by history.
Take the first step in faith. You don't have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.
Man must evolve for all human conflict a method which rejects revenge, aggression and retaliation. The foundation of such a method is love.
Science investigates religion interprets. Science gives man knowledge which is power religion gives man wisdom which is control.
We have guided missiles and misguided men.
We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope.
There can be no deep disappointment where there is not deep love.
The ultimate tragedy is not the oppression and cruelty by the bad people but the silence over that by the good people.
War is a poor chisel to carve out tomorrow.
All labor that uplifts humanity has dignity and importance and should be undertaken with painstaking excellence.
The hope of a secure and livable world lies with disciplined nonconformists who are dedicated to justice, peace and brotherhood.
A genuine leader is not a searcher for consensus but a molder of consensus.
We must concentrate not merely on the negative expulsion of war but the postive affirmation of peace.
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.
A man who won't die for something is not fit to live.
It is not enough to say we must not wage war. It is necessary to love peace and sacrifice for it.
The sweltering summer of the Negro's legitimate discontent will not pass until there is an invigorating autumn of freedom and equality.
Shallow understanding from people of good will is more frustrating than absolute misunderstanding from people of ill will.
We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools.