--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There is something in this universe that…" description: "\"There is something in this universe that justifies the biblical writer in saying, \"You shall reap what you sow.\" This is a law-abiding universe. This i..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b3f/martin-luther-king-jr-127_abiding_there-is-something-in-this-universe-that_3038768.jpg" --- # There is something in this universe that justifies the… ![“There is something in this universe that justifies the biblical writer in saying, "You shall reap what you sow." This is a law-abiding universe. This is a moral universe. It hinges on moral foundations. If we are to make of this a better world, we've got to go back and rediscover that precious…” quote by Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b3f/martin-luther-king-jr-127_abiding_there-is-something-in-this-universe-that_3038768.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b3f/martin-luther-king-jr-127_abiding_there-is-something-in-this-universe-that_3038768.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b3f/martin-luther-king-jr-127_abiding_there-is-something-in-this-universe-that_3038768.jpg) > “There is something in this universe that justifies the biblical writer in saying, "You shall reap what you sow." This is a law-abiding universe. This is a moral universe. It hinges on moral foundations. If we are to make of this a better world, we've got to go back and rediscover that precious value that we've left behind.” [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. The quote asserts that the universe operates on moral cause and effect, urging a return to foundational ethical values for societal improvement. **In simple terms:** The world follows moral cause and effect; we must revive core values. Key Takeaway Reembrace moral foundations to improve society. Themes ethics justice spirituality societal reform Mood reflective inspirational serious Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - community building - policy making - education reform - personal conduct Key Concepts moral law cause and effect value rediscovery Questions to Reflect On - What core values have we neglected? - How can societies embed moral causality in law? A Different Perspective Moral causality may be challenged by relativism and differing cultural norms. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Better world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better-world/) [Biblical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/biblical/) [Inspiring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspiring/) [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [Left behind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/left-behind/) [Moral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moral/) [Reap What You Sow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reap-what-you-sow/) [Universe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/universe/) [Values](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/values/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [The first principle of value that we need to rediscover is this: that all reality hinges on moral foundations. In other words, that this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/the-first-principle-of-value-that-we-need-to-rediscover-is-this-that-2/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [The first principle of value that we need to rediscover is this: that all reality hinges on moral foundations. In other words, that this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/the-first-principle-of-value-that-we-need-to-rediscover-is-this-that/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [When our days become dreary with low hovering clouds of despair, and when our nights become darker than a thousand midnights, let us remember…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/when-our-days-become-dreary-with-low-hovering-clouds-of-despair-and/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [The main thing a childhood in the Church did for me, I think, was set up the universe as a moral system. Once you've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/the-main-thing-a-childhood-in-the-church-did-for-me-i-think-was-set/) [George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/) > [“The bad news is that if we do in fact get off the earth we will contaminate the rest of the universe with our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-l-doctorow-2/the-bad-news-is-that-if-we-do-in-fact-get-off-the-earth-we-will/) [E.L. Doctorow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-l-doctorow-2/) > [Our world hinges on moral foundations. God has made it so. God has made the universe to be based on a moral law. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/our-world-hinges-on-moral-foundations-god-has-made-it-so-god-has-made/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [Justice demands integrity. It’s to have a moral universe — not only know what is right or wrong but to put things in perspective,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/justice-demands-integrity-it-s-to-have-a-moral-universe-not-only-know/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [“Theism, however, teaches that not only is there a moral universe but there is an absolute standard by which all moral judgments are measured.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-w-sire/theism-however-teaches-that-not-only-is-there-a-moral-universe-but/) [James W. Sire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-w-sire/) > [There are indeed 'values' in the Harry Potter series, but they're confused with anti-values. Potterworld is a scrambled moral universe. There are Christian symbols…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-o-brien/there-are-indeed-values-in-the-harry-potter-series-but-they-re/) [Michael O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-o-brien/) > [Stories can bring alive the moral universe in a very vivid, useful, engaging way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morris-gleitzman/stories-can-bring-alive-the-moral-universe-in-a-very-vivid-useful/) [Morris Gleitzman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morris-gleitzman/) > [This is a moral universe, which means that despite all the evidence that seems to be to the contrary, there is no way that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/this-is-a-moral-universe-which-means-that-despite-all-the-evidence/) [Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/) > [I think if we wish to live in any kind of a moral universe, we must hold the perpetrators of violence responsible for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/i-think-if-we-wish-to-live-in-any-kind-of-a-moral-universe-we-must/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [When we're in our right minds, we are hopeful. Because the arc of the moral universe does bend toward justice, nature does bend toward…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/when-we-re-in-our-right-minds-we-are-hopeful-because-the-arc-of-the/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [You kind of create your own moral universe. It's like, well, I like myself. If other people don't like me, then whatever. I'm out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-cutler/you-kind-of-create-your-own-moral-universe-it-s-like-well-i-like/) [Jessica Cutler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-cutler/) > [I do not pretend to understand the moral universe; the arc is a long one. . . . But from what I see I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-parker/i-do-not-pretend-to-understand-the-moral-universe-the-arc-is-a-long/) [Theodore Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-parker/) ## 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 Abiding quotes > [If there is an abiding theme in 'The Pursuit of Happiness,' it is the idea that you come into the world already shaped by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-kennedy/if-there-is-an-abiding-theme-in-the-pursuit-of-happiness-it-is-the/) [Douglas Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-kennedy/) > [Why is it, my shadow-striding friend, that we don't fear dreams? 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I think it's important for us to recognize that we've got a tradition of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-think-we-have-two-conflicting-traditions-in-this-country-i-think-it/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [A wicked mortal is not the idea of God. He is little else than the expression of error. To suppose that sin, lust, hatred,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-baker-eddy/a-wicked-mortal-is-not-the-idea-of-god-he-is-little-else-than-the/) [Mary Baker Eddy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-baker-eddy/) > [When the penalty for a policeman's mistake is to put a criminal back out on the street, then we are hurting America; we are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-bauer/when-the-penalty-for-a-policeman-s-mistake-is-to-put-a-criminal-back/) [Gary Bauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-bauer/) > [The value of a dollar is to buy just things; a dollar goes on increasing in value with all the genius and all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-value-of-a-dollar-is-to-buy-just-things-a-dollar-goes-on/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [The aims of these three groups are entirely irreconcilable. The aim of the High is to remain where they are. 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People crave both, mistaking alliance for friendship, lust for love, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynda-obst/love-and-friendship-two-of-life-s-abiding-rewards-are-endangered/) [Lynda Obst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynda-obst/) > [In a government like ours, the Crown is the abiding and unshakable element in government; politicians may come and go, but the Crown remains…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robertson-davies/in-a-government-like-ours-the-crown-is-the-abiding-and-unshakable/) [Robertson Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robertson-davies/) > [I sometimes forget that life is fragile. The fact that I have more time to dream my dreams and take my ease is no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luci-swindoll/i-sometimes-forget-that-life-is-fragile-the-fact-that-i-have-more/) [Luci Swindoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luci-swindoll/) Browse all 387 Abiding quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "There is something in this universe that justifies the biblical writer in saying, \"You shall reap what you sow.\" This is a law-abiding universe. This is a moral universe. It hinges on moral foundations. 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