--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We have to remember that Dr. King was not…" description: "\"We have to remember that Dr. King was not an idle dreamer. Dr. King was a man of action. If Dr. King were here, he would challenge us and exhort us.\" —..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2f0/marc-morial-28494_action_we-have-to-remember-that-dr-king-was-not_1423911.png" --- # We have to remember that Dr. King was not an idle dreamer… ![“We have to remember that Dr. King was not an idle dreamer. Dr. King was a man of action. If Dr. King were here, he would challenge us and exhort us.” quote by Marc Morial](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2f0/marc-morial-28494_action_we-have-to-remember-that-dr-king-was-not_1423911.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2f0/marc-morial-28494_action_we-have-to-remember-that-dr-king-was-not_1423911.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2f0/marc-morial-28494_action_we-have-to-remember-that-dr-king-was-not_1423911.png) > “We have to remember that Dr. King was not an idle dreamer. Dr. King was a man of action. If Dr. King were here, he would challenge us and exhort us.” [Marc Morial](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-morial/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Martin Luther King Jr. is portrayed as an active leader whose legacy urges us to act rather than merely dream. **In simple terms:** King was a doer, not just a dreamer. Key Takeaway Embrace active engagement. Themes leadership activism legacy Mood inspirational determined Type motivational historical When to use this quote - community organizing - political advocacy - education reform - personal responsibility Key Concepts Civic duty social change motivation Questions to Reflect On - How will you translate his vision into action? - What barriers prevent you from acting now? A Different Perspective His impact depended on collective effort, not a single voice. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Challenge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/challenge/) [Dreamer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreamer/) [King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/king/) [Man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man/) [Racism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/racism/) ## Related quotes > [There is no contradiction between effective law enforcement and respect for civil and human rights. Dr. King did not stir us to move for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-height/there-is-no-contradiction-between-effective-law-enforcement-and-2/) [Dorothy Height](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-height/) > [The Dr. King holiday is not just for black people, African-Americans or people of African descent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lz-granderson/the-dr-king-holiday-is-not-just-for-black-people-african-americans-or/) [LZ Granderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lz-granderson/) > [Dr. King's famous 'I Have a Dream' speech was delivered at 'The March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom,' a call to justice beyond…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-b-rangel/dr-king-s-famous-i-have-a-dream-speech-was-delivered-at-the-march-on/) [Charles B. Rangel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-b-rangel/) > [We've had a great change. Dr King saw to that. I was so grateful to see the 'colored only' signs come off the water…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mavis-staples/we-ve-had-a-great-change-dr-king-saw-to-that-i-was-so-grateful-to-see/) [Mavis Staples](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mavis-staples/) > [Naming a bridge after Dr. King was the right thing to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-white/naming-a-bridge-after-dr-king-was-the-right-thing-to-do/) [Jesse White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-white/) > [Well, first, I didn't kill Dr. King.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-earl-ray/well-first-i-didn-t-kill-dr-king/) James Earl Ray > [It's simply incorrect to call Dr. King a Republican.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-garrow/it-s-simply-incorrect-to-call-dr-king-a-republican/) [David Garrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-garrow/) > [She was in a difficult position being the widow of a great American hero, a role that carried high expectations but she did a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morris-dees/she-was-in-a-difficult-position-being-the-widow-of-a-great-american/) [Morris Dees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morris-dees/) > [A lot has happened since Dr. King left us. He probably wouldn't recognize the landscape if he saw it, but I still believe he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morris-dees/a-lot-has-happened-since-dr-king-left-us-he-probably-wouldn-t/) [Morris Dees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morris-dees/) > [There are many people making a difference. I mean, Dr. King never held an office. Gandhi never held an office. There are people who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-kucinich/there-are-many-people-making-a-difference-i-mean-dr-king-never-held/) [Dennis Kucinich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-kucinich/) > [While nothing is perfect or complete in the battle for civil rights, the efforts of Dr. King and those like him have in fact,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/skai-jackson/while-nothing-is-perfect-or-complete-in-the-battle-for-civil-rights/) [Skai Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/skai-jackson/) > [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/) > [I first met Dr. King in 1954 when I was a student at Alabama State University and a member of a local church down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-white/i-first-met-dr-king-in-1954-when-i-was-a-student-at-alabama-state/) [Jesse White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-white/) > [And in the racial climate of this country today, it is anybody's guess which of the 'extremes' in approach to the black man's problems…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/and-in-the-racial-climate-of-this-country-today-it-is-anybody-s-guess/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [I used read about Dr. King a lot as a kid. Independently, from being assigned it or being told by my parents or anything,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-legend/i-used-read-about-dr-king-a-lot-as-a-kid-independently-from-being/) [John Legend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-legend/) ## More by Marc Morial > [Money is not our primary aim. Changing the behavior and the practice of the gun industry is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-morial/money-is-not-our-primary-aim-changing-the-behavior-and-the-practice/) [Marc Morial](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-morial/) > [Technology is permeating every single thing we do... And to the extent that we can better expose our young people to all the different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-morial/technology-is-permeating-every-single-thing-we-do-and-to-the-extent/) [Marc Morial](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-morial/) > [We stand ready to work together, where possible, in helping rebuild not only homes and businesses, but most importantly, lives of those who so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-morial/we-stand-ready-to-work-together-where-possible-in-helping-rebuild-not/) [Marc Morial](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-morial/) > [What would it take for you to acknowledge that race is an issue? Maybe you don't want to acknowledge that race is an issue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-morial/what-would-it-take-for-you-to-acknowledge-that-race-is-an-issue-maybe/) [Marc Morial](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-morial/) > [We must continue to have voting rights in the state, not to politicize this, but they must have a voice in the rebuilding effort…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-morial/we-must-continue-to-have-voting-rights-in-the-state-not-to-politicize/) [Marc Morial](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-morial/) > [The mayor has got to work closely with a wide variety of people, his city council, state legislature, governor, business community, labor community, president…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-morial/the-mayor-has-got-to-work-closely-with-a-wide-variety-of-people-his/) [Marc Morial](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-morial/) > [Because you basically won a close re-election, your first task is to unify the city. And it's done not with words but with actions,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-morial/because-you-basically-won-a-close-re-election-your-first-task-is-to/) [Marc Morial](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-morial/) > [Because Katrina put it out there, no one can play the pretend game anymore that there isn't poverty and inequality in this country. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-morial/because-katrina-put-it-out-there-no-one-can-play-the-pretend-game/) [Marc Morial](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-morial/) > [Progress rarely comes as a result of being passive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-morial/progress-rarely-comes-as-a-result-of-being-passive/) [Marc Morial](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-morial/) > [This - the leadership of the mayor is crucial, because it is to the mayor that people will look to provide the vision, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-morial/this-the-leadership-of-the-mayor-is-crucial-because-it-is-to-the/) [Marc Morial](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-morial/) > [A police officer wears a uniform. They're sworn to uphold the law. They're public servants. And they should not be above the law.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-morial/a-police-officer-wears-a-uniform-they-re-sworn-to-uphold-the-law-they/) [Marc Morial](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-morial/) > [Rosa Parks was the queen mother of a movement whose single act of heroism sparked the movement for freedom, justice and equality. Her greatest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-morial/rosa-parks-was-the-queen-mother-of-a-movement-whose-single-act-of/) [Marc Morial](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-morial/) > [Poverty, the racial divide and social injustice do not impact only those who suffer most visibly. Alleviating poverty and injustice is a responsibility we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-morial/poverty-the-racial-divide-and-social-injustice-do-not-impact-only/) [Marc Morial](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-morial/) > [The Society of American Civil Engineers, someone who's going to come in and say to the public, we've looked at, we've examined, we've reviewed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-morial/the-society-of-american-civil-engineers-someone-who-s-going-to-come/) [Marc Morial](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-morial/) > [A great American city is fighting for its life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-morial/a-great-american-city-is-fighting-for-its-life/) [Marc Morial](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-morial/) [Explore all 19 Marc Morial quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-morial/) ## More Action quotes > [I always say there are two things to be successful. The first is decide exactly what you want - set your goals - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/i-always-say-there-are-two-things-to-be-successful-the-first-is/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [You'd be surprised how hard it can often be to translate an action into an idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-kraus/you-d-be-surprised-how-hard-it-can-often-be-to-translate-an-action/) [Karl Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-kraus/) > [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. Expressing gratitude by writing in a journal, taking a photo, or shooting a video creates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-kaplan/gratitude-isn-t-just-a-feeling-it-s-an-action-expressing-gratitude-by/) [Janice Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-kaplan/) > [Nothing is so powerful as an insight into human nature... what compulsions drive a man, what instincts dominate his action. If you know these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-bernbach/nothing-is-so-powerful-as-an-insight-into-human-nature-what/) [William Bernbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-bernbach/) > [Every thought I have imprisioned in expression I must free by my deeds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/every-thought-i-have-imprisioned-in-expression-i-must-free-by-my-deeds/) [Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/) > [It took me 20 years to buy an electric typewriter, because I was afraid it would be too sensitive. I like to bang the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/it-took-me-20-years-to-buy-an-electric-typewriter-because-i-was/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [Every action that helps us manifest our divine nature more and more is good; every action that retards it is evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/every-action-that-helps-us-manifest-our-divine-nature-more-and-more/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [As you begin changing your thinking, start immediately to change your behaviour. Begin to act the part of the person you would like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-you-begin-changing-your-thinking-start-immediately-to-change-your/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It's easy to say, let's go in and get the bad guys. But you have a divided country of Sunnis and Shias. The United…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tulsi-gabbard/it-s-easy-to-say-let-s-go-in-and-get-the-bad-guys-but-you-have-a/) [Tulsi Gabbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tulsi-gabbard/) > [For comedy action, I must know the language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sammo-hung/for-comedy-action-i-must-know-the-language/) [Sammo Hung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sammo-hung/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“Action is a powerful thing. When you smile through your sadness, it can completely change your outlook. Try it! Smile :) Now hold onto…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leticia-rae/action-is-a-powerful-thing-when-you-smile-through-your-sadness-it-can/) [Leticia Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leticia-rae/) > [I reject criticism because the last thing I wanted was to sit there and look at people talking. 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