--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: May I stress the need for courageous…" description: "\"May I stress the need for courageous, intelligent, and dedicated leadership... Leaders of sound integrity. Leaders not in love with publicity, but in l..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/464/martin-luther-king-jr-127_causes_may-i-stress-the-need-for-courageous-int_3038483.png" --- # May I stress the need for courageous, intelligent, and… ![“May I stress the need for courageous, intelligent, and dedicated leadership... Leaders of sound integrity. Leaders not in love with publicity, but in love with justice. Leaders not in love with money, but in love with humanity. Leaders who can subject their particular egos to the greatness of the…” quote by Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/464/martin-luther-king-jr-127_causes_may-i-stress-the-need-for-courageous-int_3038483.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/464/martin-luther-king-jr-127_causes_may-i-stress-the-need-for-courageous-int_3038483.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/464/martin-luther-king-jr-127_causes_may-i-stress-the-need-for-courageous-int_3038483.png) > “May I stress the need for courageous, intelligent, and dedicated leadership... Leaders of sound integrity. Leaders not in love with publicity, but in love with justice. Leaders not in love with money, but in love with humanity. Leaders who can subject their particular egos to the greatness of the cause.” [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 leadership rooted in integrity, justice, humanity over ego, fame, or money. **In simple terms:** Leadership should prioritize moral values and the greater good. Key Takeaway Choose leaders who serve the cause, not themselves. Themes integrity justice humility service leadership Mood inspired determined hopeful Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - political movements - community organizing - nonprofit leadership - activist campaigns Key Concepts ethical leadership self‑transcendence social responsibility Questions to Reflect On - How can you foster humble leadership in your sphere? - What sacrifices are necessary for justice? A Different Perspective Leaders may face systemic resistance or personal sacrifice. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Commitment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/commitment/) [Courage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courage/) [Courageous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courageous/) [Dedicated](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dedicated/) [Ego](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ego/) [Greatness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greatness/) [Humanity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humanity/) [Integrity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/integrity/) [Justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justice/) [Leader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leader/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Publicity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/publicity/) [Sound](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sound/) [Stress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stress/) ## Related quotes > [“Sex is a good power that can change and destroy the position and integrity of leaders”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-nyarangi-akoya/sex-is-a-good-power-that-can-change-and-destroy-the-position-and/) [JOEL NYARANGI AKOYA](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-nyarangi-akoya/) > [It's not just that individuals have lost faith in the integrity of their leaders, it's that they no longer believe society's most powerful institutions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-hamel/it-s-not-just-that-individuals-have-lost-faith-in-the-integrity-of/) [Gary Hamel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-hamel/) > [I can't explain the lack of integrity among some of the leaders of our health care facilities. This is something I rarely encountered during…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-shinseki/i-can-t-explain-the-lack-of-integrity-among-some-of-the-leaders-of/) [Eric Shinseki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-shinseki/) > [Real leadership is leaders recognizing that they serve the people that they lead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-hoekstra/real-leadership-is-leaders-recognizing-that-they-serve-the-people/) [Pete Hoekstra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-hoekstra/) > [“People are inspired by action. So, when it comes to charity work and leadership, leaders should always remember that it is a lot easier…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germany-kent/people-are-inspired-by-action-so-when-it-comes-to-charity-work-and/) [Germany Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germany-kent/) > [Times of upheaval require not just more leadership but more leaders. 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Bennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-g-bennis/) > [“Great leaders love what they do, who they do it with, and who they do it for.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clay-scroggins/great-leaders-love-what-they-do-who-they-do-it-with-and-who-they-do/) [Clay Scroggins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clay-scroggins/) > [Great leaders love to see people grow. The day you are afraid of them being better than you is the day you fail as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-welch/great-leaders-love-to-see-people-grow-the-day-you-are-afraid-of-them/) [Jack Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-welch/) ## 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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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 Causes quotes > [It appears to me that one great cause of our difference in opinion on subjects which we often discuss is that you have always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ricardo/it-appears-to-me-that-one-great-cause-of-our-difference-in-opinion-on/) [David Ricardo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ricardo/) > [I pray that wherever we are and whatever duties we have in the priesthood of God, we will be united in the cause to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-b-eyring/i-pray-that-wherever-we-are-and-whatever-duties-we-have-in-the/) [Henry B. 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