--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Let us be practical and ask the question…" description: "\"Let us be practical and ask the question: How do we love our enemies?\" — Martin Luther King, Jr" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae3/martin-luther-king-jr-127_asks_let-us-be-practical-and-ask-the-question_702671.png" --- # Let us be practical and ask the question: How do we love… ![“Let us be practical and ask the question: How do we love our enemies?” quote by Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae3/martin-luther-king-jr-127_asks_let-us-be-practical-and-ask-the-question_702671.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae3/martin-luther-king-jr-127_asks_let-us-be-practical-and-ask-the-question_702671.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae3/martin-luther-king-jr-127_asks_let-us-be-practical-and-ask-the-question_702671.png) > “Let us be practical and ask the question: How do we love our enemies?” [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. Love for enemies requires active empathy, understanding, and seeking common humanity despite conflict. **In simple terms:** Love enemies by empathizing and seeking common ground. Key Takeaway Practice empathy toward those you oppose. Themes for empathy conflict resolution Mood reflective hopeful Type ethical inspirational When to use this quote - personal relationships - political negotiations - community building - interfaith dialogue Key Concepts nonviolent resistance ethical leadership Questions to Reflect On - How can you truly understand an opponent's perspective? - What actions show love beyond words? A Different Perspective Love may be difficult when deep grievances exist. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Asks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asks/) [Enemies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemies/) [Enemy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemy/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Love Enemies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love-enemies/) [Love your enemies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love-your-enemies/) [Loving your enemies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/loving-your-enemies/) [Practical Ask](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/practical-ask-5560500/) [Practicals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/practicals/) [Question Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/question-love/) ## Related quotes > [Love even for enemies is the key to the solution of the problems of our world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/love-even-for-enemies-is-the-key-to-the-solution-of-the-problems-of/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [So when Jesus says "Love your enemies," he is setting forth a profound and ultimately inescapable admonition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/so-when-jesus-says-love-your-enemies-he-is-setting-forth-a-profound/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [Now there is a final reason I think that Jesus says, 'Love your enemies.' It is this: that love has within it a redemptive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/now-there-is-a-final-reason-i-think-that-jesus-says-love-your-enemies/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [There's something about love that builds up and is creative. There is something about hate that tears down and is destructive. So love your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/there-s-something-about-love-that-builds-up-and-is-creative-there-is/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [There's another reason why you should love your enemies, and that is because hate distorts the personality of the hater. We usually think of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/there-s-another-reason-why-you-should-love-your-enemies-and-that-is/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [Love your enemies, do good to them that hate you](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-the-evangelist/love-your-enemies-do-good-to-them-that-hate-you/) [Luke the Evangelist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-the-evangelist/) > [Now there is a final reason I think that Jesus says, Love your enemies. It is this: that love has within it a redemptive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/now-there-is-a-final-reason-i-think-that-jesus-says-love-your-enemies-2/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The Bible tells us to love our neighbors, and also to love our enemies; probably because they are generally the same people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-bible-tells-us-to-love-our-neighbors-and-also-to-love-our-enemies-2/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Loving Your Enemies... Far from being the pious injunction of a utopian dreamer, this demand is an absolute necessity for the survival of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/loving-your-enemies-far-from-being-the-pious-injunction-of-a-utopian/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [We must develop and maintain the capacity to forgive. He who is devoid of the power to forgive is devoid of the power to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/we-must-develop-and-maintain-the-capacity-to-forgive-he-who-is-devoid-3/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [Love is understanding, redemptive goodwill for all men, so that you love everybody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/love-is-understanding-redemptive-goodwill-for-all-men-so-that-you/) [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/) > [There is some good in the worst of us, and some evil in the best of us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/there-is-some-good-in-the-worst-of-us-and-some-evil-in-the-best-of-us/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [...love has within it a redemptive power. And there is a power there that eventually transforms individuals. Just keep being friendly to that person.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/love-has-within-it-a-redemptive-power-and-there-is-a-power-there-that/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [There may come a time when it will be possible for you to humiliate your worst enemy or even to defeat him, but in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/there-may-come-a-time-when-it-will-be-possible-for-you-to-humiliate/) [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 Asks quotes > [If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. 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And suddenly forever seems like too short a time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-andreas/there-is-nothing-more-i-ask-of-this-life-than-this-moment-exactly-so/) [Brian Andreas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-andreas/) > [Success will come when the societal attitude changes and not a single woman in America asks herself the question 'What did I do?'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/success-will-come-when-the-societal-attitude-changes-and-not-a-single/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [The most fundamental question we can ever ask ourselves is whether or not the universe we live in is friendly or hostile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/the-most-fundamental-question-we-can-ever-ask-ourselves-is-whether-or/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [The rich people are apparently leaving America. They're giving up their citizenship. 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