Being a Negro in America means trying to smile when you want to cry. It means trying to hold on to physical… — Martin Luther King, Jr Copy Share Image
We have no honorable intentions in Vietnam. Our minimal expectation is to occupy it as an American colony and maintain social stability… — Martin Luther King, Jr Copy Share Image
If an American is concerned only about his nation, he will not be concerned about the peoples of Asia, Africa, or South… — Martin Luther King, Jr Copy Share Image
And I must say tonight that a riot is the language of the unheard. And what is it America has failed to hear? It has failed to hear that the plight of the negro poor has worsened over the last twelve or fifteen years. It has failed to hear that the promises of freedom and justice have not been met.… — Martin Luther King, Jr Copy Share
It is obvious today that America has defaulted on this promissory note insofar as her citizens of color are concerned. Instead of… — Martin Luther King, Jr Copy Share Image
It's wrong to hate. It always has been wrong and it always will be wrong. It's wrong in America, it's wrong in… — Martin Luther King, Jr Copy Share Image
The time has come for America to hear the truth about this tragic war. In international conflicts, the truth is hard to come by because most nations are deceived about themselves. Rationalizations and the incessant search for scapegoats are the psychological cataracts that blind us to our sins. But the day has passed for superficial patriotism. He who lives with… — Martin Luther King, Jr Copy Share
Slavery in America was perpetuated not merely by human badness but also by human blindness. ... Men convinced themselves that a system… — Martin Luther King, Jr Copy Share Image
A nation that will keep people in slavery for 244 years will "thingify" them and make them things. And therefore, they will exploit them and poor people generally economically. And a nation that will exploit economically will have to have foreign investments and everything else, and it will have to use its military might to protect them. All of these… — Martin Luther King, Jr Copy Share
All too many of those who live in affluent America ignore those who exist in poor America; in doing so, the affluent… — Martin Luther King, Jr Copy Share Image
I must face the fact, as all others in positions of leadership must do, that America today is an extremely sick nation,… — Martin Luther King, Jr Copy Share Image
Unfortunately, most of the major denominations still practice segregation in local churches, hospitals, schools, and other church institutions. It is appalling that… — Martin Luther King, Jr Copy Share Image
The strong man holds in a living blend strongly marked opposites. — Martin Luther King, Jr Copy Share Image
Our nation was born in genocide when it embraced the doctrine that the original American, the Indian, was an inferior race. ... We are perhaps the only nation which tried as a matter of national policy to wipe out its indigenous population. Moreover, we elevated that tragic experience into a noble crusade. Indeed, even today we have not permitted ourselves… — Martin Luther King, Jr Copy Share
Somewhere somebody must have some sense. Men must see that force begets force, hate begets hate, toughness begets toughness. And it is all a… — Martin Luther King, Jr Copy Share Image
Every genuine expression of love grows out of a consistent and total surrender to God. — Martin Luther King, Jr Copy Share Image
We must remember that intelligence is not enough. Intelligence plus character--that is the goal of true education. The complete education gives one not only power of concentration, but worthy objectives upon which to concentrate. The broad education will, therefore, transmit to one not only the accumulated knowledge of the race but also the accumulated experience of social living. If we… — Martin Luther King, Jr Copy Share
The supreme task is to organize and unite people so that their anger becomes a transforming force. — Martin Luther King, Jr Copy Share Image
The great issue of life is to harness the drum major instinct. — Martin Luther King, Jr Copy Share Image
Somebody must have sense enough and morality enough to cut off the chain of hate and the chain of evil in the universe. And… — Martin Luther King, Jr Copy Share Image
What seems so necessary today may not even be desirable tomorrow. — Martin Luther King, Jr Copy Share Image
The Negro cannot win the respect of his oppressor by acquiescing; he merely increases the oppressor's arrogance and contempt. — Martin Luther King, Jr Copy Share Image