--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: But now I must affirm that it is just as…" description: "\"But now I must affirm that it is just as wrong, or perhaps even more so, to use moral means to preserve immoral ends.\" — Martin Luther King, Jr" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d3/martin-luther-king-jr-127_birmingham_but-now-i-must-affirm-that-it-is-just-as_1186981.png" --- # But now I must affirm that it is just as wrong, or perhaps… ![“But now I must affirm that it is just as wrong, or perhaps even more so, to use moral means to preserve immoral ends.” quote by Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d3/martin-luther-king-jr-127_birmingham_but-now-i-must-affirm-that-it-is-just-as_1186981.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d3/martin-luther-king-jr-127_birmingham_but-now-i-must-affirm-that-it-is-just-as_1186981.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d3/martin-luther-king-jr-127_birmingham_but-now-i-must-affirm-that-it-is-just-as_1186981.png) > “But now I must affirm that it is just as wrong, or perhaps even more so, to use moral means to preserve immoral ends.” [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. Using immoral methods to achieve immoral goals is as wrong as using moral means for immoral ends. **In simple terms:** Both immoral means and immoral ends are wrong. Key Takeaway Avoid compromising ethics for any outcome. Themes ethics politics moral philosophy Mood reflective critical Type philosophical ethical When to use this quote - policy decisions - activism - leadership - personal conduct Key Concepts consequentialism deontology Questions to Reflect On - Can a morally good result justify unethical tactics? - When is compromise acceptable? A Different Perspective Sometimes pragmatic choices seem necessary despite moral costs. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Birmingham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/birmingham/) [Moral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moral/) [Morality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/morality/) ## Related quotes > [it is just as wrong, or even perhaps more so, to use moral means to preserve immoral ends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/it-is-just-as-wrong-or-even-perhaps-more-so-to-use-moral-means-to/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [So I have tried to make it clear that it is wrong to use immoral means to attain moral ends. But now I must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/so-i-have-tried-to-make-it-clear-that-it-is-wrong-to-use-immoral/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [“I have consistently preached that nonviolence demands that the means we use must be as pure as the ends we seek. I have tried…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr-2/i-have-consistently-preached-that-nonviolence-demands-that-the-means-2/) [Martin Luther King Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr-2/) > [ \[nonviolence\] seeks to secure moral ends through moral means. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/nonviolence-seeks-to-secure-moral-ends-through-moral-means/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [“Moral’ means one is free to enjoy only the things that belong to him and those he receives naturally and spontaneously. That is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/moral-means-one-is-free-to-enjoy-only-the-things-that-belong-to-him/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [To me, drone use is a moral issue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/to-me-drone-use-is-a-moral-issue/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [I am cognizant of the interrelatedness of all communities and states. I cannot sit idly by in Atlanta and not be concerned about what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/i-am-cognizant-of-the-interrelatedness-of-all-communities-and-states/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [I am in Birmingham because injustice is here. 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It is immoral because it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/and-violence-is-impractical-because-the-old-eye-for-an-eye-philosophy/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [We must remember that intelligence is not enough. Intelligence plus character--that is the goal of true education. 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/) ## 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. ... We are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/our-nation-was-born-in-genocide-when-it-embraced-the-doctrine-that/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [Somewhere somebody must have some sense. Men must see that force begets force, hate begets hate, toughness begets toughness. And it is all a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/somewhere-somebody-must-have-some-sense-men-must-see-that-force/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [Every genuine expression of love grows out of a consistent and total surrender to God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/every-genuine-expression-of-love-grows-out-of-a-consistent-and-total/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [We must remember that intelligence is not enough. Intelligence plus character--that is the goal of true education. 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 Birmingham quotes > [I don't think anything happens without the press, one way or the other. I think it's all done for it. You saw it start,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garry-winogrand/i-don-t-think-anything-happens-without-the-press-one-way-or-the-other/) [Garry Winogrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garry-winogrand/) > [I remember I played Birmingham and I'd been awake for about a week and I was walking about like a raving lunatic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-cinnamon/i-remember-i-played-birmingham-and-i-d-been-awake-for-about-a-week/) [Gerry Cinnamon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-cinnamon/) > [I admire Tom Ades: he's a brilliant conductor, and he gets just the right hard, brilliant sound from the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-hazlewood/i-admire-tom-ades-he-s-a-brilliant-conductor-and-he-gets-just-the/) [Charles Hazlewood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-hazlewood/) > [“Nobody wants a house in Osaka,' he said, and it was strange to hear him switch suddenly to foreign pronunciation in the middle of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-pulley/nobody-wants-a-house-in-osaka-he-said-and-it-was-strange-to-hear-him/) [Natasha Pulley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-pulley/) > [I went to university in the north of England at University of Birmingham to do an English literature degree, and I knew I could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-riley/i-went-to-university-in-the-north-of-england-at-university-of/) [Tom Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-riley/) > [Obviously it's very hard to leave a club that you've supported all your life. But the reason that I've come to Birmingham is that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-dunn/obviously-it-s-very-hard-to-leave-a-club-that-you-ve-supported-all/) [David Dunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-dunn/) > [When I first began visiting West Germany in the early 1980s, I was startled by the contrast between Birmingham, where I went to school,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-harding/when-i-first-began-visiting-west-germany-in-the-early-1980s-i-was/) [Luke Harding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-harding/) > [I get on with Joe Hart really well. He joined Birmingham on loan when I was there and to see him working day-in, day-out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-butland/i-get-on-with-joe-hart-really-well-he-joined-birmingham-on-loan-when/) [Jack Butland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-butland/) > [I just didn't feel like there would be a lot of opportunities for me in Birmingham.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-hawthorne/i-just-didn-t-feel-like-there-would-be-a-lot-of-opportunities-for-me/) [Kim Hawthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-hawthorne/) > [I was born in segregated Birmingham, Alabama. 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I'd say the authors I like best are an English fellow named Michael…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-shelby-spong/i-ve-probably-read-maybe-by-now-fifteen-twenty-books-on-matthew-i-d/) [John Shelby Spong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-shelby-spong/) > [I told Birmingham I don't want nothing, I'm not interested in the money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-redknapp/i-told-birmingham-i-don-t-want-nothing-i-m-not-interested-in-the-money/) [Harry Redknapp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-redknapp/) [Browse all 130 Birmingham quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/birmingham/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "But now I must affirm that it is just as wrong, or perhaps even more so, to use moral means to preserve immoral ends.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Martin Luther King, Jr" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/but-now-i-must-affirm-that-it-is-just-as-wrong-or-perhaps-even-more/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Birmingham" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/but-now-i-must-affirm-that-it-is-just-as-wrong-or-perhaps-even-more/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d3/martin-luther-king-jr-127_birmingham_but-now-i-must-affirm-that-it-is-just-as_1186981.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d3/martin-luther-king-jr-127_birmingham_but-now-i-must-affirm-that-it-is-just-as_1186981.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d3/martin-luther-king-jr-127_birmingham_but-now-i-must-affirm-that-it-is-just-as_1186981.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“But now I must affirm that it is just as wrong, or perhaps even more so, to use moral means to preserve…” — Martin Luther King, Jr", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Martin Luther King, Jr", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "But now I must affirm that...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/but-now-i-must-affirm-that-it-is-just-as-wrong-or-perhaps-even-more/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/but-now-i-must-affirm-that-it-is-just-as-wrong-or-perhaps-even-more/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```