--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Certainly I'm not saying that you sit…" description: "\"Certainly I'm not saying that you sit down and patiently accept injustice. I'm talking about a very strong force, where you stand up with all your migh..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dcf/martin-luther-king-jr-127_accepting_certainly-i-m-not-saying-that-you-sit-do_368475.png" --- # Certainly I'm not saying that you sit down and patiently… ![“Certainly I'm not saying that you sit down and patiently accept injustice. I'm talking about a very strong force, where you stand up with all your might against an evil system, and you are not a coward.” quote by Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dcf/martin-luther-king-jr-127_accepting_certainly-i-m-not-saying-that-you-sit-do_368475.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dcf/martin-luther-king-jr-127_accepting_certainly-i-m-not-saying-that-you-sit-do_368475.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dcf/martin-luther-king-jr-127_accepting_certainly-i-m-not-saying-that-you-sit-do_368475.png) > “Certainly I'm not saying that you sit down and patiently accept injustice. I'm talking about a very strong force, where you stand up with all your might against an evil system, and you are not a coward.” [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. Advocates active resistance against systemic evil rather than passive acceptance. **In simple terms:** Stand up against injustice. Key Takeaway Take bold action against oppression. Themes justice activism courage Mood determined urgent Type inspirational political When to use this quote - civil rights protests - whistleblowing - community organizing Key Concepts nonviolent resistance ethical duty Questions to Reflect On - What systemic injustice will you confront? - How can you act without becoming a target? A Different Perspective Passive acceptance can perpetuate harm. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Accept Injustice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accept-injustice-2496738/) [Accepting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accepting/) [Coward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coward/) [Down and](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/down-and/) [Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil/) [Force](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/force/) [Injustice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/injustice/) [Injustice Talking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/injustice-talking-3366194/) [Justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justice/) [Might](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/might/) [Strong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strong/) [Strong Force](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strong-force-327873/) [Talking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talking/) [Very strong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/very-strong/) [Where you stand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/where-you-stand/) ## Related quotes > [There is such a thing as the freedom of exhaustion. Some people are so worn down by the yoke of oppression that they give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/there-is-such-a-thing-as-the-freedom-of-exhaustion-some-people-are-so/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [To accept injustice or segregation passively is to say to the oppressor that his actions are morally right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/to-accept-injustice-or-segregation-passively-is-to-say-to-the/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [It is hardly a moral act to encourage others patiently to accept injustice which he himself does not endure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/it-is-hardly-a-moral-act-to-encourage-others-patiently-to-accept/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [It is better to protest than to accept injustice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosa-parks/it-is-better-to-protest-than-to-accept-injustice/) [Rosa Parks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosa-parks/) > [As a world leader who refused to accept injustice, Nelson Mandela's courage helped change our entire world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salil-shetty/as-a-world-leader-who-refused-to-accept-injustice-nelson-mandela-s/) [Salil Shetty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salil-shetty/) > [To forgive and accept injustice is cowardice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/to-forgive-and-accept-injustice-is-cowardice/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [The jet stream is a very strong force and pushing a balloon into it is like pushing up against a brick wall, but once…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/the-jet-stream-is-a-very-strong-force-and-pushing-a-balloon-into-it/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [When the U.K. and India collaborate, there is force multiplier, which is very-very strong. The force multiplier with India is much stronger than with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-johnson/when-the-u-k-and-india-collaborate-there-is-force-multiplier-which-is/) [Jo Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-johnson/) > [Strength is paradoxical. I am not strong because I can force others to do what I wish as a result of my play with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-p-carse/strength-is-paradoxical-i-am-not-strong-because-i-can-force-others-to/) [James P. Carse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-p-carse/) > [There's a very strong force in Tolkien's characters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-armitage/there-s-a-very-strong-force-in-tolkien-s-characters/) [Richard Armitage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-armitage/) > [“with the weak force controlling radioactive decay, the strong force binding the atomic nucleus, the electromagnetic force binding molecules, and gravity binding bulk matter.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/with-the-weak-force-controlling-radioactive-decay-the-strong-force/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [“The holy faith is the strong force.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/the-holy-faith-is-the-strong-force/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [During the engagement I tried to throw a strong force through the canon, but I was obliged to use it elsewhere before it had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-crook/during-the-engagement-i-tried-to-throw-a-strong-force-through-the/) [George Crook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-crook/) > [“You can only fight Fate so far, and when you give in to it you're very strong; because all of your force flows in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/you-can-only-fight-fate-so-far-and-when-you-give-in-to-it-you-re-very/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [“At sufficiently high energy the force of gravitation between two typical elementary particles becomes as strong as any other force between them. The energy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-weinberg/at-sufficiently-high-energy-the-force-of-gravitation-between-two/) [Steven Weinberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-weinberg/) ## 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 Accepting quotes > [From Augustine down, theologians have tried to compel people to accept their special interpretation of the Scripture, and the tortures of the inquisition, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matilda-joslyn-gage/from-augustine-down-theologians-have-tried-to-compel-people-to-accept/) [Matilda Joslyn Gage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matilda-joslyn-gage/) > [Laughing, laughing, laughing, laughing! It is the jester! A voice from the Void, to cheer poor Cicero! I accept your gift, dearest Night Mother.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/laughing-laughing-laughing-laughing-it-is-the-jester-a-voice-from-the/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [This duo inside of me causes the perfect opportunity to live and learn twice as fast as those who choose to accept simplicity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tupac-shakur/this-duo-inside-of-me-causes-the-perfect-opportunity-to-live-and/) [Tupac Shakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tupac-shakur/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [We only enter into the full life if our faith gives thanks. Because how else do we accept His free gift of salvation if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/we-only-enter-into-the-full-life-if-our-faith-gives-thanks-because/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [Don't be bitter. Everybody suffers. If you can accept your suffering then you will understand other people better. Be grateful for pain. Love life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/don-t-be-bitter-everybody-suffers-if-you-can-accept-your-suffering/) [Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/) > [It takes an unusually philosophic mind to accept that all one’s suffering might be to no end, really, in the larger scheme of things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-takes-an-unusually-philosophic-mind-to-accept-that-all-one-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [No nation being under another nation can accept gifts, and kick at the responsibility attached to those gifts, imposed by the conquering nation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/no-nation-being-under-another-nation-can-accept-gifts-and-kick-at-the/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Even with clothing naked animals, there were people who wanted to send in money. A woman in Santa Barbara, California, sent a $40,000 check.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-abel/even-with-clothing-naked-animals-there-were-people-who-wanted-to-send/) [Alan Abel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-abel/) > [Society understands the architecture of academia and knows there are relevant qualifications in different fields, and the media accepts the idea of specialisations and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-griffiths/society-understands-the-architecture-of-academia-and-knows-there-are/) [Jay Griffiths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-griffiths/) > [Whatever your conscious mind assumes and believes to be true, your subconscious mind will accept and bring to pass. 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I totally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pirjo-honkasalo/as-my-films-are-born-at-the-moment-when-they-are-reflected-into/) [Pirjo Honkasalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pirjo-honkasalo/) [Browse all 6,788 Accepting quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accepting/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Certainly I'm not saying that you sit down and patiently accept injustice. 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