--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Actually, we who engage in nonviolent…" description: "\"Actually, we who engage in nonviolent direct action are not the creators of tension. We merely bring to the surface the hidden tension that is already ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5aa/martin-luther-king-jr-127_action_actually-we-who-engage-in-nonviolent-dir_106247.png" --- # Actually, we who engage in nonviolent direct action are… ![“Actually, we who engage in nonviolent direct action are not the creators of tension. We merely bring to the surface the hidden tension that is already alive. We bring it out in the open, where it can be seen and dealt with. Like a boil that can never be cured so long as it is covered up but must…” quote by Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5aa/martin-luther-king-jr-127_action_actually-we-who-engage-in-nonviolent-dir_106247.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5aa/martin-luther-king-jr-127_action_actually-we-who-engage-in-nonviolent-dir_106247.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5aa/martin-luther-king-jr-127_action_actually-we-who-engage-in-nonviolent-dir_106247.png) > “Actually, we who engage in nonviolent direct action are not the creators of tension. We merely bring to the surface the hidden tension that is already alive. We bring it out in the open, where it can be seen and dealt with. Like a boil that can never be cured so long as it is covered up but must be opened with an its ugliness to the natural medicines of air and light, injustice must be exposed, with all the tension its exposure creates, to the light of human conscience and the air of national opinion before it can be cured.” [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Non‑violent protest does not create tension; it reveals pre‑existing injustice, exposing it to public scrutiny so it can be addressed, much like opening a wound for healing. **In simple terms:** Peaceful protest uncovers hidden injustice. Key Takeaway Exposure of tension enables societal healing. Themes social justice non‑violence activism public awareness Mood determined urgent Type political philosophical When to use this quote - civil rights marches - environmental demonstrations - labor strikes Key Concepts systemic oppression collective conscience Practical Applications - document grievances - engage media to amplify exposure Questions to Reflect On - What mechanisms ensure exposed tensions lead to constructive change? - How can movements balance visibility with safety? A Different Perspective Revealing tension can also inflame backlash if not paired with constructive dialogue. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Alive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alive/) [Conscience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conscience/) [Covered up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/covered-up/) [Creator](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creator/) [Direct action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/direct-action/) [Exposure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exposure/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Injustice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/injustice/) [Justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justice/) [Light](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/light/) [Medicine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/medicine/) [Nonviolent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nonviolent/) [Opinion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opinion/) [Tension](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tension/) [Ugliness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ugliness/) ## Related quotes > [“We who engage in nonviolent direct action are not the creators of tension. We merely bring to the surface hidden tension that is already…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/we-who-engage-in-nonviolent-direct-action-are-not-the-creators-of/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [Nonviolent direct action seeks to create such a crisis and establish such creative tension that a community that has consistently refused to negotiate is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/nonviolent-direct-action-seeks-to-create-such-a-crisis-and-establish/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [Like a boil that must be opened with all its ugliness to the natural medicines of air and light, injustice must be exposed to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/like-a-boil-that-must-be-opened-with-all-its-ugliness-to-the-natural/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [In any nonviolent campaign there are four basic steps: collection of the facts to determine whether injustices exist; negotiation; self-purification; and direct action.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/in-any-nonviolent-campaign-there-are-four-basic-steps-collection-of/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [Racial segregation must be seen for what it is, and that is an evil system, a new form of slavery covered up with certain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/racial-segregation-must-be-seen-for-what-it-is-and-that-is-an-evil/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [Education without direction is a one-sided social value. Direct action without education is a meaningless expression of pure energy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/education-without-direction-is-a-one-sided-social-value-direct-action/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [For years now I have heard the word "wait." It rings in the ear of every Negro with a piercing familiarity. This "wait" has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/for-years-now-i-have-heard-the-word-wait-it-rings-in-the-ear-of-every-2/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [Non-violent direct action seeks to create such a crisis and establish such creative tension that a community that has constantly refused to negotiate is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/non-violent-direct-action-seeks-to-create-such-a-crisis-and-establish/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [We know through painful experience that freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed. Frankly I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/we-know-through-painful-experience-that-freedom-is-never-voluntarily-2/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [The purpose of direct action is to create a situation so crisis-packed that it will inevitably open the door to negotiation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/the-purpose-of-direct-action-is-to-create-a-situation-so-crisis/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [We had no alternative except that of preparing for direct action, whereby we would present our very bodies as a means of laying our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/we-had-no-alternative-except-that-of-preparing-for-direct-action/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [It is our experience that the nation doesn't move around questions of genuine equality for the poor and for black people until it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/it-is-our-experience-that-the-nation-doesn-t-move-around-questions-of/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [We decided to set our direct-action program around the Easter season, realizing that, with exception of Christmas, this was the largest shopping period of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/we-decided-to-set-our-direct-action-program-around-the-easter-season/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [The nonviolent approach does not immediately change the heart of the oppressor. It first does something to the hearts and souls of those committed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/the-nonviolent-approach-does-not-immediately-change-the-heart-of-the/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [My friends, I must say to you that we have not made a single gain in civil rights without determined legal and nonviolent pressure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/my-friends-i-must-say-to-you-that-we-have-not-made-a-single-gain-in/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) ## More by Martin Luther King, Jr > [The strong man holds in a living blend strongly marked opposites.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/the-strong-man-holds-in-a-living-blend-strongly-marked-opposites/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [Our nation was born in genocide when it embraced the doctrine that the original American, the Indian, was an inferior race. ... 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The complete education gives one not only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/we-must-remember-that-intelligence-is-not-enough-intelligence-plus/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [I’ve been to the Mountaintop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/i-ve-been-to-the-mountaintop/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [The supreme task is to organize and unite people so that their anger becomes a transforming force.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/the-supreme-task-is-to-organize-and-unite-people-so-that-their-anger/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [The great issue of life is to harness the drum major instinct.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/the-great-issue-of-life-is-to-harness-the-drum-major-instinct/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [Somebody must have sense enough and morality enough to cut off the chain of hate and the chain of evil in the universe. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/somebody-must-have-sense-enough-and-morality-enough-to-cut-off-the/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [Darkness is only driven out with light, not more darkness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/darkness-is-only-driven-out-with-light-not-more-darkness/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [What seems so necessary today may not even be desirable tomorrow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/what-seems-so-necessary-today-may-not-even-be-desirable-tomorrow/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [The Negro cannot win the respect of his oppressor by acquiescing; he merely increases the oppressor's arrogance and contempt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/the-negro-cannot-win-the-respect-of-his-oppressor-by-acquiescing-he/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [The majority of the Negroes who took part in the year-long boycott of Montgomery's buses were poor and untutored; but they understood the essence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/the-majority-of-the-negroes-who-took-part-in-the-year-long-boycott-of/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [Whenever you are engaged in work that serves humanity and is for the building of humanity, it has dignity and it has worth,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/whenever-you-are-engaged-in-work-that-serves-humanity-and-is-for-the/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a desert state, sweltering with the heat of injustice and oppression, will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/i-have-a-dream-that-one-day-even-the-state-of-mississippi-a-desert/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) [Explore all 1,210 Martin Luther King, Jr quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) ## 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. 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