--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What can we be in life? Few figures in…" description: "\"What can we be in life? Few figures in history have answered this question with as much clarity and moral authority as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.\" — Ch..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/892/chris-gardner-3822_authority_what-can-we-be-in-life-few-figures-in-hi_2019084.png" --- # What can we be in life? Few figures in history have… ![“What can we be in life? Few figures in history have answered this question with as much clarity and moral authority as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.” quote by Chris Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/892/chris-gardner-3822_authority_what-can-we-be-in-life-few-figures-in-hi_2019084.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/892/chris-gardner-3822_authority_what-can-we-be-in-life-few-figures-in-hi_2019084.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/892/chris-gardner-3822_authority_what-can-we-be-in-life-few-figures-in-hi_2019084.png) > “What can we be in life? Few figures in history have answered this question with as much clarity and moral authority as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.” [Chris Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-gardner/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The question of life's purpose has been answered clearly and morally by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., offering a model for ethical living. **In simple terms:** King provides a clear, moral answer to life's purpose. Key Takeaway Study King's teachings to guide personal purpose. Themes purpose morality leadership legacy Mood inspirational thoughtful Type historical philosophical When to use this quote - education - public speaking - community service - personal development - activism Key Concepts civil rights philosophy ethical existentialism Questions to Reflect On - What does purpose mean to you? - How can King's vision be applied today? A Different Perspective Interpretations of purpose vary across cultures and contexts. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Authority](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/authority/) [Clarity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clarity/) [Dr martin luther king](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dr-martin-luther-king/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/king/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Moral authority](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moral-authority/) [Racism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/racism/) ## Related quotes > [ Nonviolence with Dr. \[Martin Luther \]King is only a method. That's not his objective. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/nonviolence-with-dr-martin-luther-king-is-only-a-method-that-s-not/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [Dr. Martin Luther King was never a man to say 'I've got this' as the leader of the movement. He wasn't always sure that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-oyelowo/dr-martin-luther-king-was-never-a-man-to-say-i-ve-got-this-as-the/) [David Oyelowo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-oyelowo/) > [The first African-American leader was Dr. Martin Luther King.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-seale/the-first-african-american-leader-was-dr-martin-luther-king/) [Bobby Seale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-seale/) > [One of the greatest men to ever walk this land was Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. His life exemplified unity by bringing people together…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/one-of-the-greatest-men-to-ever-walk-this-land-was-dr-martin-luther/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [ Dr. \[Martin Luther\] King was a human being. He had a sense of humor which was wonderful. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/dr-martin-luther-king-was-a-human-being-he-had-a-sense-of-humor-which/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [I was proud to march beside some of the most notable Civil Rights activists, such as the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Rev.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-b-rangel/i-was-proud-to-march-beside-some-of-the-most-notable-civil-rights/) [Charles B. Rangel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-b-rangel/) > [I enjoyed spending time with Senator Isakson, especially every year when he would join Ebenezer Baptist Church for our annual celebration of Dr. Martin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raphael-warnock/i-enjoyed-spending-time-with-senator-isakson-especially-every-year/) [Raphael Warnock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raphael-warnock/) > [ That's where Dr. \[Martin Luther\] King is mixed up. His goals should be the solution of the problem of the black man in America. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/that-s-where-dr-martin-luther-king-is-mixed-up-his-goals-should-be/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [I hope that the opening of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial will be a life-altering experience that inspires every American to rededicate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yvette-clarke/i-hope-that-the-opening-of-the-dr-martin-luther-king-jr-memorial-will/) [Yvette Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yvette-clarke/) > [ I met Rosa Parks when I was 17. I met Dr. \[Martin Luther\] King when I was 18. These two individuals inspired me to… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lewis/i-met-rosa-parks-when-i-was-17-i-met-dr-martin-luther-king-when-i-was/) [John Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lewis/) > [“I'm an admirer of everything Dr. Martin Luther King stood for, but I don't think he would have stood for this”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-rooney/i-m-an-admirer-of-everything-dr-martin-luther-king-stood-for-but-i/) [Andy Rooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-rooney/) > [The thing that would probably surprise most people was that Dr. Martin Luther King was a very reluctant leader. He felt very shocked at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-oyelowo/the-thing-that-would-probably-surprise-most-people-was-that-dr-martin/) [David Oyelowo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-oyelowo/) > [Dr. Martin Luther King is not a black hero. He is an American hero.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-freeman/dr-martin-luther-king-is-not-a-black-hero-he-is-an-american-hero/) [Morgan Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-freeman/) > [The greatest moral leader of my lifetime was Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., whose private life does not bear close examination.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ivins/the-greatest-moral-leader-of-my-lifetime-was-dr-martin-luther-king-jr/) [Molly Ivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ivins/) > [The goal of Dr. Martin Luther King is to give Negroes a chance to sit in a segregated restaurant beside the same white man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/the-goal-of-dr-martin-luther-king-is-to-give-negroes-a-chance-to-sit/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) ## More by Chris Gardner > [Be bold enough to find the one thing that you are passionate about. It might not be what you were trained to do. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-gardner/be-bold-enough-to-find-the-one-thing-that-you-are-passionate-about-it/) [Chris Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-gardner/) > [Others may question your credentials, your papers, your degrees. Others may look for all kinds of ways to diminish your worth. But what is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-gardner/others-may-question-your-credentials-your-papers-your-degrees-others/) [Chris Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-gardner/) > [Walk that walk and go forward all the time. Don't just talk that talk, walk it and go forward. Also, the walk didn't have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-gardner/walk-that-walk-and-go-forward-all-the-time-don-t-just-talk-that-talk/) [Chris Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-gardner/) > [Salespeople are the most important people in any organization. Until a salesperson gets an order, nobody in the company has a job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-gardner/salespeople-are-the-most-important-people-in-any-organization-until-a/) [Chris Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-gardner/) > [You're never too old to do something new.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-gardner/you-re-never-too-old-to-do-something-new/) [Chris Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-gardner/) > [It's ok to FAIL it's not ok to Quit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-gardner/it-s-ok-to-fail-it-s-not-ok-to-quit/) [Chris Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-gardner/) > [“It’s okay to fail, it’s not okay to quit.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-gardner/it-s-okay-to-fail-it-s-not-okay-to-quit/) [Chris Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-gardner/) > [I have one of those old-fashioned mothers who told me every single day, 'Son, you can do or be anything that you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-gardner/i-have-one-of-those-old-fashioned-mothers-who-told-me-every-single/) [Chris Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-gardner/) > [You know how mountains get moved? Everyone who can move a couple, move a couple. Those who can move rocks, move rocks. Those who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-gardner/you-know-how-mountains-get-moved-everyone-who-can-move-a-couple-move/) [Chris Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-gardner/) > [I had spent years in the United States military. Specifically in the U.S. Navy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-gardner/i-had-spent-years-in-the-united-states-military-specifically-in-the-u/) [Chris Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-gardner/) > [I've never been big on sports coats and pants. I'm a suit guy. It makes it clear who's in charge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-gardner/i-ve-never-been-big-on-sports-coats-and-pants-i-m-a-suit-guy-it-makes/) [Chris Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-gardner/) > [Still a dreamer, yet more of a realist than ever before, I knew this was my time to sail. On the horizon I saw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-gardner/still-a-dreamer-yet-more-of-a-realist-than-ever-before-i-knew-this/) [Chris Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-gardner/) > [Nine times out of 10, extenuating circumstances aside, I believe that people are where they are by some kind of choice on their part.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-gardner/nine-times-out-of-10-extenuating-circumstances-aside-i-believe-that/) [Chris Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-gardner/) > [(The movie) is the story of my life, but it's not about me. It's about anybody who ever dreamed big and had someone tell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-gardner/the-movie-is-the-story-of-my-life-but-it-s-not-about-me-it-s-about/) [Chris Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-gardner/) > [I had never gone to college. I was not from a politically connected family. I had no money of my own. 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This delay was due to a desire on the part…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/the-execution-was-set-for-the-29th-of-march-at-nine-in-the-morning/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) > [I started with the belief that every person who came to the laboratory was free to accept or to reject the dictates of authority.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-milgram/i-started-with-the-belief-that-every-person-who-came-to-the/) [Stanley Milgram](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-milgram/) > [The rationale which accompanies that imposition of male authority euphemistically referred to as 'the battle of the sexes' bears a certain resemblance to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-millett/the-rationale-which-accompanies-that-imposition-of-male-authority/) [Kate Millett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-millett/) > [“We are at the mercy of whoever wields authority over the things we either desire or detest. 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