Actions Quote by Martin Luther King Jr
““One of the great tragedies of life is that men seldom bridge the gulf between practice and profession, between doing and saying. A persistent schizophrenia leaves so many of us tragically divided against ourselves. On the one hand, we proudly profess certain sublime and noble principles, but on the other hand, we sadly practise the very antithesis of these principles. How often are our lives characterised by a high blood pressure of creeds and an anaemia of deeds! We talk eloquently about our commitment to the principles of Christianity, and yet our lives are saturated with the practices of paganism. We proclaim our devotion to democracy, but we sadly practise the very opposite of the democratic creed. We talk passionately about peace, and at the same time we assiduously prepare for war. We make our fervent pleas for the high road of justice, and then we tread unflinchingly the low road of injustice. This strange dichotomy, this agonising gulf between the ought and the is , represents the tragic theme of man's earthly pilgrimage.””
About This Quote
Source Speech: The Other America, Martin Luther King Jr., 1967
People often claim high ideals yet act opposite, creating a painful gap between belief and behavior.
In simple terms: Words and actions often conflict.
Key Takeaway
Align actions with stated values.
Themes
integrity
hypocrisy
social justice
human nature
Mood
reflective
critical
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- political activism
- personal conduct
- organizational policy
- education curricula
Key Concepts
Ethics
cognitive dissonance
social critique
Questions to Reflect On
- What belief do you live out fully?
- How can you reduce the gap between your ideals and actions?
A Different Perspective
Changing deep habits is difficult and may face resistance.
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