16 of the Best Things Martin Luther King Jr. Ever Said

Yes, we know quotes themselves can’t solve actual problems.

But Martin Luther King Jr. was one incredibly intelligent, optimistic man, a visionary whose wisdom could probably solve a lot of the issues we face as a global society if they were put into action. And that’s exactly what was at the core of his spirit: that we exercise our right to fight for freedoms, equality and beliefs.

So today, as we celebrate the legacy of one of our time’s greatest humanitarians on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, here are 16 MLK quotes we all could apply to create a more equal, harmonious, and just society.

1. “Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into friend.”

2. “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.”

3. “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.”


4. “Freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed.”

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

6. “I look to a day when people will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.”


7. “We must use time creatively.”

8. “Nonviolence is a powerful and just weapon. which cuts without wounding and ennobles the man who wields it. It is a sword that heals.”

9. “The hottest place in Hell is reserved for those who remain neutral in times of great moral conflict.”


10. “Almost always, the creative dedicated minority has made the world better.”

11. “Our scientific power has outrun our spiritual power. We have guided missiles and misguided men.”

12. “When you are right you cannot be too radical; when you are wrong, you cannot be too conservative.”


13. “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’”

14. “Everybody can be great … because anybody can serve. You don’t have to have a college degree to serve. You don’t have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love.”

15. “Only in the darkness can you see the stars.” 

16. “If I cannot do great things, I can do small things in a great way.”


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