--- title: "12 Direct action Quotes By Martin Luther King, Jr" description: "12 Direct action quotes by Martin Luther King, Jr. Plus more from Martin Luther King, Jr and more Direct action sayings from other authors." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6db/martin-luther-king-jr-127_action_it-is-our-experience-that-the-nation-doe_568534.png" --- > [It is our experience that the nation doesn't move around questions of genuine equality for the poor and for black people until…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/it-is-our-experience-that-the-nation-doesn-t-move-around-questions-of/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6db/martin-luther-king-jr-127_action_it-is-our-experience-that-the-nation-doe_568534.png) > [“We who engage in nonviolent direct action are not the creators of tension. We merely bring to the surface hidden tension that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/we-who-engage-in-nonviolent-direct-action-are-not-the-creators-of/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a60/martin-luther-king-jr-127_action_we-who-engage-in-nonviolent-direct-actio_113404.jpg) > [For years now I have heard the word "wait." It rings in the ear of every Negro with a piercing familiarity. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/for-years-now-i-have-heard-the-word-wait-it-rings-in-the-ear-of-every-2/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/22a/martin-luther-king-jr-127_civil-right-movement_for-years-now-i-have-heard-the-word-wait_2037752.png) > [Nonviolent direct action seeks to create such a crisis and establish such creative tension that a community that has consistently refused to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/nonviolent-direct-action-seeks-to-create-such-a-crisis-and-establish/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/793/martin-luther-king-jr-127_action_nonviolent-direct-action-seeks-to-create_1798332.png) > [We had no alternative except that of preparing for direct action, whereby we would present our very bodies as a means of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/we-had-no-alternative-except-that-of-preparing-for-direct-action/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51f/martin-luther-king-jr-127_action_we-had-no-alternative-except-that-of-pre_604602.jpg) > [Education without direction is a one-sided social value. Direct action without education is a meaningless expression of pure energy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/education-without-direction-is-a-one-sided-social-value-direct-action/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/764/martin-luther-king-jr-127_action_education-without-direction-is-a-one-sid_2719427.png) > [In any nonviolent campaign there are four basic steps: collection of the facts to determine whether injustices exist; negotiation; self-purification; and direct…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/in-any-nonviolent-campaign-there-are-four-basic-steps-collection-of/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aea/martin-luther-king-jr-127_action_in-any-nonviolent-campaign-there-are-fou_2611609.png) > [The purpose of direct action is to create a situation so crisis-packed that it will inevitably open the door to negotiation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/the-purpose-of-direct-action-is-to-create-a-situation-so-crisis/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/578/martin-luther-king-jr-127_action_the-purpose-of-direct-action-is-to-creat_800291.png) > [Non-violent direct action seeks to create such a crisis and establish such creative tension that a community that has constantly refused to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/non-violent-direct-action-seeks-to-create-such-a-crisis-and-establish/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a8b/martin-luther-king-jr-127_action_non-violent-direct-action-seeks-to-creat_1461951.jpg) > [We decided to set our direct-action program around the Easter season, realizing that, with exception of Christmas, this was the largest shopping…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/we-decided-to-set-our-direct-action-program-around-the-easter-season/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f79/martin-luther-king-jr-127_action_we-decided-to-set-our-direct-action-prog_3119218.png) > [We know through painful experience that freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed. Frankly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/we-know-through-painful-experience-that-freedom-is-never-voluntarily-2/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2db/martin-luther-king-jr-127_action_we-know-through-painful-experience-that_1391891.png) > [Actually, we who engage in nonviolent direct action are not the creators of tension. We merely bring to the surface the hidden…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/actually-we-who-engage-in-nonviolent-direct-action-are-not-the/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5aa/martin-luther-king-jr-127_action_actually-we-who-engage-in-nonviolent-dir_106247.png) ## Other authors on Direct action - [ ![](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/uploads/sms4s/authors/processed/b009/author-emma-goldman-33179.jpg) Emma Goldman 6 quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/direct-action/emma-goldman/) - [ ![](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/uploads/sms4s/authors/processed/b011/author-howard-zinn-42481.jpg) Howard Zinn 5 quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/direct-action/howard-zinn/) ## 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/direct-action/martin-luther-king-jr/#itemlist", "name": "12 Direct action Quotes By Martin Luther King, Jr", "numberOfItems": 12, "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It is our experience that the nation doesn't move around questions of genuine equality for the poor and for black people until it is confronted massively, dramatically in terms of direct action.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Martin Luther King, Jr" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/it-is-our-experience-that-the-nation-doesn-t-move-around-questions-of/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6db/martin-luther-king-jr-127_action_it-is-our-experience-that-the-nation-doe_568534.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6db/martin-luther-king-jr-127_action_it-is-our-experience-that-the-nation-doe_568534.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6db/martin-luther-king-jr-127_action_it-is-our-experience-that-the-nation-doe_568534.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It is our experience that the nation doesn't move around questions of genuine equality for the poor and for…” — Martin Luther King, Jr", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“We who engage in nonviolent direct action are not the creators of tension. 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It seeks so to dramatize the issue that it can no longer be ignored... I am not afraid of the word tension. I have earnestly worked and preached against violent tension, and there is a type of constructive tension that is necessary for growth.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Martin Luther King, Jr" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/non-violent-direct-action-seeks-to-create-such-a-crisis-and-establish/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a8b/martin-luther-king-jr-127_action_non-violent-direct-action-seeks-to-creat_1461951.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a8b/martin-luther-king-jr-127_action_non-violent-direct-action-seeks-to-creat_1461951.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a8b/martin-luther-king-jr-127_action_non-violent-direct-action-seeks-to-creat_1461951.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Non-violent direct action seeks to create such a crisis and establish such creative tension that a community…” — Martin Luther King, Jr", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 10, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We decided to set our direct-action program around the Easter season, realizing that, with exception of Christmas, this was the largest shopping period of the year. Knowing that a strong economic withdrawal program would be the by-product of direct action.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Martin Luther King, Jr" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/we-decided-to-set-our-direct-action-program-around-the-easter-season/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f79/martin-luther-king-jr-127_action_we-decided-to-set-our-direct-action-prog_3119218.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f79/martin-luther-king-jr-127_action_we-decided-to-set-our-direct-action-prog_3119218.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f79/martin-luther-king-jr-127_action_we-decided-to-set-our-direct-action-prog_3119218.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We decided to set our direct-action program around the Easter season, realizing that, with exception of…” — Martin Luther King, Jr", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 11, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We know through painful experience that freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed. Frankly I have never yet engaged in a direct action movement that was 'well timed,' according to the timetable of those who have not suffered unduly from the disease of segregation. For years now I have heard the word 'Wait!' It rings in the ear of every Negro with a piercing familiarity. This 'wait' has almost always meant 'never.' We must come to see with the distinguished jurist of yesterday that 'justice too long delayed is justice denied.'", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Martin Luther King, Jr" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/we-know-through-painful-experience-that-freedom-is-never-voluntarily-2/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2db/martin-luther-king-jr-127_action_we-know-through-painful-experience-that_1391891.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2db/martin-luther-king-jr-127_action_we-know-through-painful-experience-that_1391891.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2db/martin-luther-king-jr-127_action_we-know-through-painful-experience-that_1391891.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We know through painful experience that freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be…” — Martin Luther King, Jr", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 12, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Actually, we who engage in nonviolent direct action are not the creators of tension. We merely bring to the surface the hidden tension that is already alive. We bring it out in the open, where it can be seen and dealt with. Like a boil that can never be cured so long as it is covered up but must be opened with an its ugliness to the natural medicines of air and light, injustice must be exposed, with all the tension its exposure creates, to the light of human conscience and the air of national opinion before it can be cured.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Martin Luther King, Jr" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/actually-we-who-engage-in-nonviolent-direct-action-are-not-the/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5aa/martin-luther-king-jr-127_action_actually-we-who-engage-in-nonviolent-dir_106247.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5aa/martin-luther-king-jr-127_action_actually-we-who-engage-in-nonviolent-dir_106247.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5aa/martin-luther-king-jr-127_action_actually-we-who-engage-in-nonviolent-dir_106247.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Actually, we who engage in nonviolent direct action are not the creators of tension. We merely bring to the…” — Martin Luther King, Jr", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } } ] }, { "@type": "CollectionPage", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/direct-action/martin-luther-king-jr/#webpage", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/direct-action/martin-luther-king-jr/", "name": "Direct action Quotes by Martin Luther King, Jr", "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "mainEntity": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/direct-action/martin-luther-king-jr/#itemlist" }, "primaryImageOfPage": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6db/martin-luther-king-jr-127_action_it-is-our-experience-that-the-nation-doe_568534.png" }, "description": "12 Direct action quotes by Martin Luther King, Jr. Plus more from Martin Luther King, Jr and more Direct action sayings from other authors.", "breadcrumb": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/direct-action/martin-luther-king-jr/#breadcrumb" } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/direct-action/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": "Direct Action", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/direct-action/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 5, "name": "Martin Luther King, Jr", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/direct-action/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 } } ] } ```