--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think if people really read Martin…" description: "\"I think if people really read Martin Luther King, Jr., then they would begin to understand what he really represented. The philosophy that he developed..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d57/coretta-scott-king-3912_christ_i-think-if-people-really-read-martin-lut_2422429.jpg" --- # I think if people really read Martin Luther King, Jr… ![“I think if people really read Martin Luther King, Jr., then they would begin to understand what he really represented. The philosophy that he developed, of course, he was greatly influenced by Gandhi and Jesus Christ.” quote by Coretta Scott King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d57/coretta-scott-king-3912_christ_i-think-if-people-really-read-martin-lut_2422429.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d57/coretta-scott-king-3912_christ_i-think-if-people-really-read-martin-lut_2422429.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d57/coretta-scott-king-3912_christ_i-think-if-people-really-read-martin-lut_2422429.jpg) > “I think if people really read Martin Luther King, Jr., then they would begin to understand what he really represented. The philosophy that he developed, of course, he was greatly influenced by Gandhi and Jesus Christ.” [Coretta Scott King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coretta-scott-king/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Understanding King requires reading his works and recognizing his influences from Gandhi and Jesus. **In simple terms:** Read King and his influences. Key Takeaway Study his writings and philosophical roots. Themes history civil rights philosophy Mood inspirational thought‑provoking Type historical educational When to use this quote - education - activism - interfaith dialogue Key Concepts non‑violence spirituality social justice Questions to Reflect On - What aspects of his philosophy resonate today? - How can his influences inform modern activism? A Different Perspective Simplifying his legacy may overlook complexity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Christ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christ/) [Courses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courses/) [Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gandhi/) [Gandhi Jesus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gandhi-jesus-1719797/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Influenced Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/influenced-gandhi-6135255/) [Jesus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jesus/) [Jesus christ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jesus-christ/) [Kings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kings/) [Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/luther/) [Luther King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/luther-king/) [Martin luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/martin-luther/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Philosophy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy/) [Racism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/racism/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [Between what is going on in Iraq and Mumia being locked up unjustly, things going on in Israel, Palestine, we don't really have anyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vinnie-paz/between-what-is-going-on-in-iraq-and-mumia-being-locked-up-unjustly/) [Vinnie Paz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vinnie-paz/) > [I think I would love to have dinner with Gandhi; Jesus Christ; Mother Theresa; Ingrid Newkirk, the president of PETA; and Madonna.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-velez-mitchell/i-think-i-would-love-to-have-dinner-with-gandhi-jesus-christ-mother/) [Jane Velez-Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-velez-mitchell/) > [Without Coretta Scott King, there would not have been a Martin Luther King, Jr. in the way that we know him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coretta-scott-king/without-coretta-scott-king-there-would-not-have-been-a-martin-luther/) [Coretta Scott King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coretta-scott-king/) > [ If Martin \[Luther King, Jr.\]'s philosophy had been embraced and lived out in Iraq and other places, we wouldn't have bin Ladens. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coretta-scott-king/if-martin-luther-king-jr-s-philosophy-had-been-embraced-and-lived-out/) [Coretta Scott King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coretta-scott-king/) > [I always knew that I was called to do something. I didn't know what, but I finally rationalized after I met Martin \[Luther King,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coretta-scott-king/i-always-knew-that-i-was-called-to-do-something-i-didn-t-know-what/) [Coretta Scott King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coretta-scott-king/) > [ People have to allow themselves to be used by God and Martin \[Luther King, Jr.\] committed himself totally to God's will and purpose and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coretta-scott-king/people-have-to-allow-themselves-to-be-used-by-god-and-martin-luther/) [Coretta Scott King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coretta-scott-king/) > [I think that for many of us, the years of the Civil Rights movements - Martin Luther King, Bobby Kennedy running for president in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kerry/i-think-that-for-many-of-us-the-years-of-the-civil-rights-movements/) [John F. Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kerry/) > [When white supremacy becomes institutional, it begins to harm the very people who are not simply outside of it because of their race, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-eric-dyson/when-white-supremacy-becomes-institutional-it-begins-to-harm-the-very/) [Michael Eric Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-eric-dyson/) > [Some people criticize the faithful for getting involved in politics, but it's important to remember that down through the centuries, people motivated by their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-wolf/some-people-criticize-the-faithful-for-getting-involved-in-politics/) [Frank Wolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-wolf/) > [ 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/) > [Martin Luther King Jr., recognized bias when he saw it, knew what he was talking about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-schwartz/martin-luther-king-jr-recognized-bias-when-he-saw-it-knew-what-he-was/) [Jack Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-schwartz/) > [I need to hear something about how he's going to bring people together in the spirit, hopefully, of Martin Luther King Jr., and if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-sharpton/i-need-to-hear-something-about-how-he-s-going-to-bring-people/) [Al Sharpton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-sharpton/) > [I think Martin Luther King would always keep track of collective insurgencies among poor and working people. He was concerned about the treatment of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornel-west/i-think-martin-luther-king-would-always-keep-track-of-collective/) [Cornel West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornel-west/) > [Martin Luther King was not a Marxist or a communist, but his radical love leads him to put poor and working people at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornel-west/martin-luther-king-was-not-a-marxist-or-a-communist-but-his-radical/) [Cornel West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornel-west/) > [Anybody who takes Martin Luther King seriously has got to go beyond the standard understanding of who he was, has to connect those dots.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornel-west/anybody-who-takes-martin-luther-king-seriously-has-got-to-go-beyond/) [Cornel West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornel-west/) ## More by Coretta Scott King > [Mr. Sessions' conduct as a U.S. Attorney, from his politically-motivated voting fraud prosecutions to his indifference toward criminal violations of civil rights laws, indicated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coretta-scott-king/mr-sessions-conduct-as-a-u-s-attorney-from-his-politically-motivated/) [Coretta Scott King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coretta-scott-king/) > [While not a panacea for the nation's illegal immigration problems, employer sanctions are one necessary means of stopping the exploitation of vulnerable workers and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coretta-scott-king/while-not-a-panacea-for-the-nation-s-illegal-immigration-problems/) [Coretta Scott King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coretta-scott-king/) > [When fear rushed in, I learned how to hear my heart racing but refused to allow my feelings to sway me. That resilience came…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coretta-scott-king/when-fear-rushed-in-i-learned-how-to-hear-my-heart-racing-but-refused/) [Coretta Scott King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coretta-scott-king/) > [I think that... discrimination in the job market is a very important area where work needs to be done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coretta-scott-king/i-think-that-discrimination-in-the-job-market-is-a-very-important/) [Coretta Scott King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coretta-scott-king/) > [We have a lot more work to do in our common struggle against bigotry and discrimination. I say "common struggle" because I believe very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coretta-scott-king/we-have-a-lot-more-work-to-do-in-our-common-struggle-against-bigotry/) [Coretta Scott King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coretta-scott-king/) > [I am convinced that the women of the world, united without any regard for national or racial dimensions, can become a most powerful force…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coretta-scott-king/i-am-convinced-that-the-women-of-the-world-united-without-any-regard/) [Coretta Scott King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coretta-scott-king/) > [Because Dr. King was human and not divine - although we think he was divine, he was just a man, an extraordinary man, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coretta-scott-king/because-dr-king-was-human-and-not-divine-although-we-think-he-was/) [Coretta Scott King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coretta-scott-king/) > [If you use weapons of war to bring about peace, you're going to have more war and destruction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coretta-scott-king/if-you-use-weapons-of-war-to-bring-about-peace-you-re-going-to-have/) [Coretta Scott King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coretta-scott-king/) > [I'm fulfilled in what I do. I never thought that a lot of money or fine clothes - the finer things of life -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coretta-scott-king/i-m-fulfilled-in-what-i-do-i-never-thought-that-a-lot-of-money-or/) [Coretta Scott King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coretta-scott-king/) > [The failure to invest in youth reflects a lack of compassion and a colossal failure of common sense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coretta-scott-king/the-failure-to-invest-in-youth-reflects-a-lack-of-compassion-and-a/) [Coretta Scott King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coretta-scott-king/) > [I believe that women know if their husbands are unfaithful. They feel it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coretta-scott-king/i-believe-that-women-know-if-their-husbands-are-unfaithful-they-feel/) [Coretta Scott King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coretta-scott-king/) > [For many years now, I have been an outspoken supporter of civil and human rights for gay and lesbian people. Gays and lesbians stood…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coretta-scott-king/for-many-years-now-i-have-been-an-outspoken-supporter-of-civil-and/) [Coretta Scott King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coretta-scott-king/) > [ People have to allow themselves to be used by God and Martin \[Luther King, Jr.\] committed himself totally to God's will and purpose and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coretta-scott-king/people-have-to-allow-themselves-to-be-used-by-god-and-martin-luther/) [Coretta Scott King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coretta-scott-king/) > [Scandal sells books; fidelity does not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coretta-scott-king/scandal-sells-books-fidelity-does-not/) [Coretta Scott King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coretta-scott-king/) > [Marrying Martin and the movement perfected my journey of discovery, soothed my yearning to pour out the values and vision within my soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coretta-scott-king/marrying-martin-and-the-movement-perfected-my-journey-of-discovery/) [Coretta Scott King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coretta-scott-king/) [Explore all 119 Coretta Scott King quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coretta-scott-king/) ## More Christ quotes > [I think, here's what I've realized from interviewing people, and I've been very open about my Catholicism and my love of Christ and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-mohr/i-think-here-s-what-i-ve-realized-from-interviewing-people-and-i-ve/) [Jay Mohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-mohr/) > [“I would even go so far as to say that the mythical character of a life is just what expresses its universal human validity.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-g-jung/i-would-even-go-so-far-as-to-say-that-the-mythical-character-of-a/) [C.G. Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-g-jung/) > [Set NOT your hearts on the flowers of this world. They shall fade and die. Prize the Rose of Sharon and the Lily of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/set-not-your-hearts-on-the-flowers-of-this-world-they-shall-fade-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When the Lord Jesus Christ became my surety . . . He went to Calvary's cross, and all my guilt was charged against Him.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-allen-ironside/when-the-lord-jesus-christ-became-my-surety-he-went-to-calvary-s/) [Henry Allen Ironside](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-allen-ironside/) > [It's going to be used in the last days to get people to come against Christ, and that's the issue: they come against the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-lahaye/it-s-going-to-be-used-in-the-last-days-to-get-people-to-come-against/) [Tim LaHaye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-lahaye/) > [May nothing entice me till I happily make my way to Jesus Christ! Fire, cross, struggles with wild beasts, wrenching of bones, mangling of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ignatius-of-antioch/may-nothing-entice-me-till-i-happily-make-my-way-to-jesus-christ-fire/) [Ignatius of Antioch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ignatius-of-antioch/) > [Whoever does not seek the cross of Christ doesn't seek the glory of Christ.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-of-the-cross/whoever-does-not-seek-the-cross-of-christ-doesn-t-seek-the-glory-of/) [John of the Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-of-the-cross/) > [It was no accident, no coincidence, that the seasons came round and round year after year. It was the Lord speaking to us all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francine-rivers/it-was-no-accident-no-coincidence-that-the-seasons-came-round-and/) [Francine Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francine-rivers/) > [Christ never preached any funeral sermons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-l-moody/christ-never-preached-any-funeral-sermons/) [Dwight L. Moody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-l-moody/) > [The emerging church movement has come to believe that the ultimate context of the spiritual aspirations of a follower of Jesus Christ is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samir-selmanovic/the-emerging-church-movement-has-come-to-believe-that-the-ultimate/) [Samir Selmanovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samir-selmanovic/) > [ T\]he church is not a place. It's not a building. It's not a preaching point. It's not a spiritual service provider. It's a people… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-dever/t-he-church-is-not-a-place-it-s-not-a-building-it-s-not-a-preaching/) [Mark Dever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-dever/) > [Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Take what I cannot give: my heart, body, thoughts, time, abilities, money, health, strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-prentiss/bring-into-captivity-every-thought-to-the-obedience-of-christ-take/) [Elizabeth Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-prentiss/) > [One thing the young Christian should be taught as quickly as possible after his conversion is that Jesus Christ is all he needs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/one-thing-the-young-christian-should-be-taught-as-quickly-as-possible/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [If you don't plan to live the Christian life totally committed to knowing your God and to walking in obedience to Him, then don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kay-arthur/if-you-don-t-plan-to-live-the-christian-life-totally-committed-to/) [Kay Arthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kay-arthur/) > [Lord, send Your life throughout the entire church. Visit Your church; restore sound doctrine and holy, earnest living. Take away from professing Christians their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/lord-send-your-life-throughout-the-entire-church-visit-your-church/) [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) [Browse all 9,006 Christ quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christ/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I think if people really read Martin Luther King, Jr., then they would begin to understand what he really represented. The philosophy that he developed, of course, he was greatly influenced by Gandhi and Jesus Christ.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Coretta Scott King" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coretta-scott-king/i-think-if-people-really-read-martin-luther-king-jr-then-they-would-2/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Christ" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coretta-scott-king/i-think-if-people-really-read-martin-luther-king-jr-then-they-would-2/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d57/coretta-scott-king-3912_christ_i-think-if-people-really-read-martin-lut_2422429.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d57/coretta-scott-king-3912_christ_i-think-if-people-really-read-martin-lut_2422429.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d57/coretta-scott-king-3912_christ_i-think-if-people-really-read-martin-lut_2422429.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I think if people really read Martin Luther King, Jr., then they would begin to understand what he really…” — Coretta Scott King", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "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": "Coretta Scott King", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coretta-scott-king/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I think if people really read...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coretta-scott-king/i-think-if-people-really-read-martin-luther-king-jr-then-they-would-2/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coretta-scott-king/i-think-if-people-really-read-martin-luther-king-jr-then-they-would-2/#breadcrumb" }, { "@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 } } ] } ```