Fear Quote by Martin Luther King, Jr
“I was not afraid of the words of the violent, but of the silence of the honest.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: The Other America, Martin Luther King Jr., 1967
Fear of violent words is less troubling than the honest silence that allows injustice to persist.
In simple terms: Silence of the honest is scarier than violent words.
Key Takeaway
Speak truth to break complacent silence.
Themes
justice
honesty
silence
Mood
hopeful
urgent
Type
social
ethical
When to use this quote
- activism
- public speaking
Key Concepts
Moral courage
social responsibility
Questions to Reflect On
- What prevents honest voices from speaking out?
- How can societies encourage truthful discourse?
A Different Perspective
Silence may sometimes be a protective strategy.
![“The key words of violent economics are urbanization, industrialization, centralization, efficiency, quantity, speed. . . . The problem of evolving a nonviolent way of economic life [in the West] and that of developing the underdeveloped countries may well turn out to be largely identical.” quote by E. F. Schumacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/4c0/e-f-schumacher-8282_centralization_the-key-words-of-violent-economics-are-u_1438975.jpg)
