Inspiring quotes from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

As we watch Red states and Republican legislatures enact voter suppression laws all over the country and white nationalism groups come out of obscurity into the light of day I am worried. I’m worried for our country and I’m worried for democracy. As we all celebrate and honor the life and legacy of MLK, I found this very inspiring and uplifting article at Biography.com and I wanted to pass it along.

The article highlights 17 inspiring quotes from various speeches and public comments over the course of his life and career. Here are three that I found particularly uplifting to me…

Science investigates; religion interprets. Science gives man knowledge, which is power; religion gives man wisdom, which is control. Science deals mainly with facts; religion deals mainly with values. The two are not rivals.

“A Tough Mind and a Tender Heart” sermon, August 30, 1959

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All we say to America is, ‘Be true to what you said on paper.’ If I lived in China or even Russia, or any totalitarian country, maybe I could understand the denial of certain basic First Amendment privileges, because they hadn’t committed themselves to that over there. But somewhere I read of the freedom of assembly. Somewhere I read of the freedom of speech. Somewhere I read of the freedom of the press. Somewhere I read that the greatness of America is the right to protest for right.

“I’ve Been to the Mountaintop” speech, April 3, 1968

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Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.

“Letter from Birmingham Jail,” April 16, 1963

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If you’d like to read all 17 quotes and read more about the life and legacy of Dr. King you can do so by clicking the button below.