--- title: "8 Cowardice Quotes By Martin Luther King, Jr" description: "8 Cowardice quotes by Martin Luther King, Jr. Plus more from Martin Luther King, Jr and more Cowardice sayings from other authors." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6fc/martin-luther-king-jr-127_conscience_on-some-positions-cowardice-asks-the-que_720924.png" --- > [On some positions, Cowardice asks the question, 'Is it safe?' Expediency asks the question, 'Is it politic?' And Vanity comes along and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/on-some-positions-cowardice-asks-the-question-is-it-safe-expediency/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6fc/martin-luther-king-jr-127_conscience_on-some-positions-cowardice-asks-the-que_720924.png) > [Cowardice is submissive surrender to circumstances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/cowardice-is-submissive-surrender-to-circumstances/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/26a/martin-luther-king-jr-127_circumstances_cowardice-is-submissive-surrender-to-cir_1060219.png) > [On some positions, cowardice asks the question, is it expedient? And then expedience comes along and asks the question, is it politic?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/on-some-positions-cowardice-asks-the-question-is-it-expedient-and/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b6b/martin-luther-king-jr-127_conscience_on-some-positions-cowardice-asks-the-que_1635488.jpg) > [Courage is an inner resolution to go forward despite obstacles; Cowardice is submissive surrender to circumstances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/courage-is-an-inner-resolution-to-go-forward-despite-obstacles/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/363/martin-luther-king-jr-127_circumstances_courage-is-an-inner-resolution-to-go-for_1910065.jpg) > [Courage faces fear and thereby masters it. Cowardice represses fear and is thereby mastered by it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/courage-faces-fear-and-thereby-masters-it-cowardice-represses-fear/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0cc/martin-luther-king-jr-127_courage_courage-faces-fear-and-thereby-masters-i_1957612.png) > [Cowardice asks the question, is it safe?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/cowardice-asks-the-question-is-it-safe/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c3/martin-luther-king-jr-127_asks_cowardice-asks-the-question-is-it-safe-2_2104746.png) > [Cowardice asks the question, is it safe? Expediency asks the question, is it politic? Vanity asks the question, is it popular? But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/cowardice-asks-the-question-is-it-safe-expediency-asks-the-question-2/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f78/martin-luther-king-jr-127_conscience_cowardice-asks-the-question-is-it-safe-e_2390054.png) > [ \[I\]t must be emphasized that nonviolent resistance is not a method for cowards; it does resist. If one uses this method because… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/i-t-must-be-emphasized-that-nonviolent-resistance-is-not-a-method-for/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74a/martin-luther-king-jr-127_alternatives_i-t-must-be-emphasized-that-nonviolent-r_2830581.jpg) ## Other authors on Cowardice - [ ![](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/uploads/sms4s/authors/processed/b016/author-mahatma-gandhi-62675.jpg) Mahatma Gandhi 32 quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cowardice/mahatma-gandhi/) - [ ![](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/uploads/sms4s/authors/processed/b023/author-swami-vivekananda-88348.jpg) Swami Vivekananda 28 quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cowardice/swami-vivekananda/) - [ ![](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/uploads/sms4s/authors/processed/b024/author-william-shakespeare-95899.jpg) William Shakespeare 12 quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cowardice/william-shakespeare/) - [ ![](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/uploads/sms4s/authors/processed/b024/author-veronica-roth-93385.jpg) Veronica Roth 10 quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cowardice/veronica-roth/) - [Craig D. Lounsbrough 9 quotes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cowardice/craig-d-lounsbrough/) - [Samuel Johnson 8 quotes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cowardice/samuel-johnson/) - [ ![](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/uploads/sms4s/authors/processed/b011/author-henry-david-thoreau-41473.jpg) Henry David Thoreau 8 quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cowardice/henry-david-thoreau/) - [ ![](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/uploads/sms4s/authors/processed/b017/author-michel-de-montaigne-67580.jpg) Michel de Montaigne 7 quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cowardice/michel-de-montaigne/) - [ ![](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/uploads/sms4s/authors/processed/b009/author-ernest-hemingway-33795.jpg) Ernest Hemingway 7 quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cowardice/ernest-hemingway/) - [ ![](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/uploads/sms4s/authors/processed/b018/author-mikhail-bulgakov-68194.jpg) Mikhail Bulgakov 6 quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cowardice/mikhail-bulgakov/) - [Mark Twain 6 quotes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cowardice/mark-twain/) - [ ![](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/uploads/sms4s/authors/processed/b010/author-friedrich-nietzsche-36363.jpg) Friedrich Nietzsche 6 quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cowardice/friedrich-nietzsche/) ## More by Martin Luther King, Jr > [The strong man holds in a living blend strongly marked opposites.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/the-strong-man-holds-in-a-living-blend-strongly-marked-opposites/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [Our nation was born in genocide when it embraced the doctrine that the original American, the Indian, was an inferior race. ... We are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/our-nation-was-born-in-genocide-when-it-embraced-the-doctrine-that/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [Somewhere somebody must have some sense. Men must see that force begets force, hate begets hate, toughness begets toughness. And it is all a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/somewhere-somebody-must-have-some-sense-men-must-see-that-force/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [Every genuine expression of love grows out of a consistent and total surrender to God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/every-genuine-expression-of-love-grows-out-of-a-consistent-and-total/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/we-must-remember-that-intelligence-is-not-enough-intelligence-plus/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [I’ve been to the Mountaintop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/i-ve-been-to-the-mountaintop/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [The supreme task is to organize and unite people so that their anger becomes a transforming force.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/the-supreme-task-is-to-organize-and-unite-people-so-that-their-anger/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [The great issue of life is to harness the drum major instinct.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/the-great-issue-of-life-is-to-harness-the-drum-major-instinct/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [Somebody must have sense enough and morality enough to cut off the chain of hate and the chain of evil in the universe. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/somebody-must-have-sense-enough-and-morality-enough-to-cut-off-the/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [Darkness is only driven out with light, not more darkness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/darkness-is-only-driven-out-with-light-not-more-darkness/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [What seems so necessary today may not even be desirable tomorrow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/what-seems-so-necessary-today-may-not-even-be-desirable-tomorrow/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [The Negro cannot win the respect of his oppressor by acquiescing; he merely increases the oppressor's arrogance and contempt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/the-negro-cannot-win-the-respect-of-his-oppressor-by-acquiescing-he/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [The majority of the Negroes who took part in the year-long boycott of Montgomery's buses were poor and untutored; but they understood the essence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/the-majority-of-the-negroes-who-took-part-in-the-year-long-boycott-of/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [Whenever you are engaged in work that serves humanity and is for the building of humanity, it has dignity and it has worth,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/whenever-you-are-engaged-in-work-that-serves-humanity-and-is-for-the/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a desert state, sweltering with the heat of injustice and oppression, will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/i-have-a-dream-that-one-day-even-the-state-of-mississippi-a-desert/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "ItemList", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cowardice/martin-luther-king-jr/#itemlist", "name": "8 Cowardice Quotes By Martin Luther King, Jr", "numberOfItems": 8, "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "On some positions, Cowardice asks the question, 'Is it safe?' Expediency asks the question, 'Is it politic?' And Vanity comes along and asks the question, 'Is it popular?' But Conscience asks the question, 'Is it right?'", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Martin Luther King, Jr" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/on-some-positions-cowardice-asks-the-question-is-it-safe-expediency/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6fc/martin-luther-king-jr-127_conscience_on-some-positions-cowardice-asks-the-que_720924.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6fc/martin-luther-king-jr-127_conscience_on-some-positions-cowardice-asks-the-que_720924.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6fc/martin-luther-king-jr-127_conscience_on-some-positions-cowardice-asks-the-que_720924.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“On some positions, Cowardice asks the question, 'Is it safe?' Expediency asks the question, 'Is it politic?'…” — Martin Luther King, Jr", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Cowardice is submissive surrender to circumstances.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Martin Luther King, Jr" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/cowardice-is-submissive-surrender-to-circumstances/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/26a/martin-luther-king-jr-127_circumstances_cowardice-is-submissive-surrender-to-cir_1060219.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/26a/martin-luther-king-jr-127_circumstances_cowardice-is-submissive-surrender-to-cir_1060219.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/26a/martin-luther-king-jr-127_circumstances_cowardice-is-submissive-surrender-to-cir_1060219.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Cowardice is submissive surrender to circumstances.” — Martin Luther King, Jr", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "On some positions, cowardice asks the question, is it expedient? And then expedience comes along and asks the question, is it politic? Vanity asks the question, is it popular? Conscience asks the question, is it right? There comes a time when one must take the position that is neither safe nor politic nor popular, but he must do it because conscience tells him it is right.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Martin Luther King, Jr" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/on-some-positions-cowardice-asks-the-question-is-it-expedient-and/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b6b/martin-luther-king-jr-127_conscience_on-some-positions-cowardice-asks-the-que_1635488.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b6b/martin-luther-king-jr-127_conscience_on-some-positions-cowardice-asks-the-que_1635488.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b6b/martin-luther-king-jr-127_conscience_on-some-positions-cowardice-asks-the-que_1635488.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“On some positions, cowardice asks the question, is it expedient? And then expedience comes along and asks…” — Martin Luther King, Jr", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Courage is an inner resolution to go forward despite obstacles; Cowardice is submissive surrender to circumstances.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Martin Luther King, Jr" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/courage-is-an-inner-resolution-to-go-forward-despite-obstacles/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/363/martin-luther-king-jr-127_circumstances_courage-is-an-inner-resolution-to-go-for_1910065.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/363/martin-luther-king-jr-127_circumstances_courage-is-an-inner-resolution-to-go-for_1910065.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/363/martin-luther-king-jr-127_circumstances_courage-is-an-inner-resolution-to-go-for_1910065.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Courage is an inner resolution to go forward despite obstacles; Cowardice is submissive surrender to…” — Martin Luther King, Jr", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 5, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Courage faces fear and thereby masters it. Cowardice represses fear and is thereby mastered by it.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Martin Luther King, Jr" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/courage-faces-fear-and-thereby-masters-it-cowardice-represses-fear/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0cc/martin-luther-king-jr-127_courage_courage-faces-fear-and-thereby-masters-i_1957612.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0cc/martin-luther-king-jr-127_courage_courage-faces-fear-and-thereby-masters-i_1957612.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0cc/martin-luther-king-jr-127_courage_courage-faces-fear-and-thereby-masters-i_1957612.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Courage faces fear and thereby masters it. Cowardice represses fear and is thereby mastered by it.” — Martin Luther King, Jr", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 6, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Cowardice asks the question, is it safe?", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Martin Luther King, Jr" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/cowardice-asks-the-question-is-it-safe/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c3/martin-luther-king-jr-127_asks_cowardice-asks-the-question-is-it-safe-2_2104746.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c3/martin-luther-king-jr-127_asks_cowardice-asks-the-question-is-it-safe-2_2104746.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c3/martin-luther-king-jr-127_asks_cowardice-asks-the-question-is-it-safe-2_2104746.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Cowardice asks the question, is it safe?” — Martin Luther King, Jr", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 7, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "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 it is right.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Martin Luther King, Jr" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/cowardice-asks-the-question-is-it-safe-expediency-asks-the-question-2/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f78/martin-luther-king-jr-127_conscience_cowardice-asks-the-question-is-it-safe-e_2390054.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f78/martin-luther-king-jr-127_conscience_cowardice-asks-the-question-is-it-safe-e_2390054.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f78/martin-luther-king-jr-127_conscience_cowardice-asks-the-question-is-it-safe-e_2390054.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Cowardice asks the question, is it safe? Expediency asks the question, is it politic? Vanity asks the…” — Martin Luther King, Jr", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 8, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "[I]t must be emphasized that nonviolent resistance is not a method for cowards; it does resist. If one uses this method because he is afraid or merely because he lacks the instruments of violence, he is not truly nonviolent. This is why Gandhi often said that if cowardice is the only alternative to violence, it is better to fight.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Martin Luther King, Jr" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/i-t-must-be-emphasized-that-nonviolent-resistance-is-not-a-method-for/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74a/martin-luther-king-jr-127_alternatives_i-t-must-be-emphasized-that-nonviolent-r_2830581.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74a/martin-luther-king-jr-127_alternatives_i-t-must-be-emphasized-that-nonviolent-r_2830581.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74a/martin-luther-king-jr-127_alternatives_i-t-must-be-emphasized-that-nonviolent-r_2830581.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“[I]t must be emphasized that nonviolent resistance is not a method for cowards; it does resist. If one uses…” — Martin Luther King, Jr", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } } ] }, { "@type": "CollectionPage", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cowardice/martin-luther-king-jr/#webpage", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cowardice/martin-luther-king-jr/", "name": "Cowardice Quotes by Martin Luther King, Jr", "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "mainEntity": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cowardice/martin-luther-king-jr/#itemlist" }, "primaryImageOfPage": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6fc/martin-luther-king-jr-127_conscience_on-some-positions-cowardice-asks-the-que_720924.png" }, "description": "8 Cowardice quotes by Martin Luther King, Jr. Plus more from Martin Luther King, Jr and more Cowardice sayings from other authors.", "breadcrumb": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cowardice/martin-luther-king-jr/#breadcrumb" } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cowardice/martin-luther-king-jr/#breadcrumb", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Topics", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/categories/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Cowardice", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cowardice/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 5, "name": "Martin Luther King, Jr", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cowardice/martin-luther-king-jr/" } ] }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```