Agape Quote by Martin Luther King, Jr
![“There may come a time when it will be possible for you to humiliate your worst enemy or even to defeat him, but in order to love the enemy you must not do it... The Greek language has another word [for love]. It calls it agape. Agape is more than romantic love. Agape is more than friendship. Agape…” quote by Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/2eb/martin-luther-king-jr-127_agape_there-may-come-a-time-when-it-will-be-po_2953320.jpg)
“There may come a time when it will be possible for you to humiliate your worst enemy or even to defeat him, but in order to love the enemy you must not do it... The Greek language has another word [for love]. It calls it agape. Agape is more than romantic love. Agape is more than friendship. Agape is understanding, redemptive goodwill for all men. Agape is an overflowing love, a spontaneous love, which seeks nothing in return. And theologians would say that it is the love of God operating in the human heart. When you rise to love on this level you love all men, not because you like them, not because their ways appeal to you, not because they are worthful to you, but you love all men because God loves them. And you rise to the noble heights of loving the person who does the evil deed while hating the deed that the person does. And I think this is what Jesus means when he says, “Love your enemies.””
About This Quote
Source Speech: Sermon on the Mount, 1967
Agape love is selfless, unconditional goodwill toward all, even enemies, reflecting divine love.
In simple terms: Selfless love for everyone, even enemies.
Key Takeaway
Practice unconditional compassion.
Themes
love
forgiveness
spirituality
ethics
Mood
reflective
inspirational
Type
philosophical
spiritual
When to use this quote
- conflict resolution
- personal growth
- community building
- interfaith dialogue
Key Concepts
agape
redemptive goodwill
divine love
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you show love to someone who harms you?
- What limits exist for unconditional love?
A Different Perspective
Loving enemies can be emotionally draining and may conflict with personal safety.
