--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is a strangely irrational notion that…" description: "\"It is a strangely irrational notion that there is something in the very flow of time that will inevitably cure all ills. Actually time is neutral. It c..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/93d/martin-luther-king-jr-127_action_it-is-a-strangely-irrational-notion-that_935222.jpg" --- # It is a strangely irrational notion that there is… ![“It is a strangely irrational notion that there is something in the very flow of time that will inevitably cure all ills. Actually time is neutral. It can be used either destructively or constructively. I am coming to feel that the people of ill will have used time much more effectively than the…” quote by Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/93d/martin-luther-king-jr-127_action_it-is-a-strangely-irrational-notion-that_935222.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/93d/martin-luther-king-jr-127_action_it-is-a-strangely-irrational-notion-that_935222.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/93d/martin-luther-king-jr-127_action_it-is-a-strangely-irrational-notion-that_935222.jpg) > “It is a strangely irrational notion that there is something in the very flow of time that will inevitably cure all ills. Actually time is neutral. It can be used either destructively or constructively. I am coming to feel that the people of ill will have used time much more effectively than the people of good will. We will have to repent in this generation not merely for the vitriolic words and actions of the bad people, but for the appalling silence of the good people.” [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. Time itself is neutral; its impact depends on how people use it. Good people have been silent while evil acts continue, and this silence must be repented. **In simple terms:** Time can be used for good or evil; silence is complicity. Key Takeaway Actively use time for justice and speak out. Themes justice silence responsibility time Mood urgent inspirational Type motivational ethical When to use this quote - activism - community organizing - personal accountability - policy advocacy Key Concepts moral urgency collective action Questions to Reflect On - What actions can you take today to break silence? - How can communities foster proactive engagement? A Different Perspective Changing deep-rooted silence requires cultural shifts and personal courage. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Bad people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-people/) [Flow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flow/) [Generations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/generations/) [Good people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-people/) [Good will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-will/) [Ill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ill/) [Ill will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ill-will/) [Irrational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/irrational/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Silence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/silence/) [This generation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/this-generation/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Words and actions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/words-and-actions/) ## Related quotes > [“Time itself is neutral; it can be used either destructively or constructively. 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You bet your sweet betsy. The only cure for the ills of democracy is more democracy. Much more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-abbey/anarchism-you-bet-your-sweet-betsy-the-only-cure-for-the-ills-of/) [Edward Abbey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-abbey/) ## 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. 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