--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When we see social relationships…" description: "\"When we see social relationships controlled everywhere by the principles which Jesus illustrated in life -- trust, love, mercy, and altruism -- then we..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e4a/martin-luther-king-jr-127_altruism_when-we-see-social-relationships-control_732246.jpg" --- # When we see social relationships controlled everywhere by… ![“When we see social relationships controlled everywhere by the principles which Jesus illustrated in life -- trust, love, mercy, and altruism -- then we shall know that the kingdom of God is here.” quote by Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e4a/martin-luther-king-jr-127_altruism_when-we-see-social-relationships-control_732246.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e4a/martin-luther-king-jr-127_altruism_when-we-see-social-relationships-control_732246.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e4a/martin-luther-king-jr-127_altruism_when-we-see-social-relationships-control_732246.jpg) > “When we see social relationships controlled everywhere by the principles which Jesus illustrated in life -- trust, love, mercy, and altruism -- then we shall know that the kingdom of God is here.” [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. A society built on trust, love, mercy, and altruism reflects God's kingdom on earth. **In simple terms:** God's kingdom appears where love and trust guide relationships. Key Takeaway Foster those virtues in daily life. Themes faith justice community compassion spirituality Mood hopeful inspirational Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - church groups - nonprofits - family gatherings - community projects - conflict resolution Key Concepts Christian ethics social harmony altruism Questions to Reflect On - How can we practice these virtues amid injustice? - What obstacles prevent widespread altruism? A Different Perspective Idealism may overlook human selfishness and systemic barriers. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Altruism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/altruism/) [Compassion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compassion/) [Jesus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jesus/) [Kingdom of god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kingdom-of-god/) [Kingdoms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kingdoms/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Mercy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mercy/) [Principles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/principles/) [Social](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/social/) [Social relationships](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/social-relationships/) [Trust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trust/) ## Related quotes > [“If we only had eyes to see and ears to hear and wits to understand, we would know that the Kingdom of God in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-buechner/if-we-only-had-eyes-to-see-and-ears-to-hear-and-wits-to-understand-we/) [Frederick Buechner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-buechner/) > [“All love relationships are controlled by an element of fear—that of acting, or becoming, unworthy of the loved one's approbation.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-j-harris/all-love-relationships-are-controlled-by-an-element-of-fear-that-of/) [Sydney J. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-j-harris/) > [“Human beings do not know that they are sons and daughters of gods so they themselves are gods. They live under the illusion that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/unathi-magubeni/human-beings-do-not-know-that-they-are-sons-and-daughters-of-gods-so/) [Unathi Magubeni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/unathi-magubeni/) > [I know my kingdom awaits and they've forgiven my mistakes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/skylar-grey/i-know-my-kingdom-awaits-and-they-ve-forgiven-my-mistakes/) [Skylar Grey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/skylar-grey/) > [Oh thrice fools are we who like new-born princes weeping in the cradle know not that there is a kingdom before them then let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-rutherford/oh-thrice-fools-are-we-who-like-new-born-princes-weeping-in-the/) [Samuel Rutherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-rutherford/) > [If one should desire to know whether a kingdom is well governed, if its morals are good or bad, the quality of its music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/if-one-should-desire-to-know-whether-a-kingdom-is-well-governed-if/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [“I know what is in your mind and in the mind of the youth. 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The reigning aspiration today is to develop individual personality through experiences…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-sennett/the-reigning-belief-today-is-that-closeness-between-persons-is-a/) [Richard Sennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-sennett/) > [Sublimation of instinct is an especially conspicuous feature of cultural development; it is what makes it possible for higher psychical activities, scientific, artistic or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sigmund-freud/sublimation-of-instinct-is-an-especially-conspicuous-feature-of/) [Sigmund Freud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sigmund-freud/) > [We are (most of us) embedded in an exceedingly complex network of social relationships, many of which are vital to our well-being. Every day…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-corning/we-are-most-of-us-embedded-in-an-exceedingly-complex-network-of/) Peter Corning > [A new world of complex relationships and feelings opens up when the peer group takes its place alongside the family as the emotional focus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-greenspan/a-new-world-of-complex-relationships-and-feelings-opens-up-when-the/) [Stanley Greenspan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-greenspan/) > [We use eating as a medium for social relationships: satisfaction of the most individual of needs becomes a means of creating community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-visser/we-use-eating-as-a-medium-for-social-relationships-satisfaction-of/) [Margaret Visser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-visser/) ## 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. ... 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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 Altruism quotes > [“It takes a female to have a baby, It takes a woman to raise a child, It takes a mother to raise them correctly,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/it-takes-a-female-to-have-a-baby-it-takes-a-woman-to-raise-a-child-it/) [Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/) > [“Some of our friends are our friends only because we used to be friends.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/some-of-our-friends-are-our-friends-only-because-we-used-to-be-friends/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [“...True classical dropouts in society are those who avoid difficult challenges and cling to the first opportunity that comes their way. They never test…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janvier-chouteu-chando/true-classical-dropouts-in-society-are-those-who-avoid-difficult/) [Janvier Chouteu-Chando](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janvier-chouteu-chando/) > [“Take a stand that reflects the widest horizons of your soul if you don’t want to be a slave to external powers.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janvier-chouteu-chando/take-a-stand-that-reflects-the-widest-horizons-of-your-soul-if-you/) [Janvier Chouteu-Chando](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janvier-chouteu-chando/) > [One of the great issues in biology is the origin of altruism - of why you would do something for someone else that could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabella-rossellini/one-of-the-great-issues-in-biology-is-the-origin-of-altruism-of-why/) [Isabella Rossellini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabella-rossellini/) > [How selfish soever man may be supposed, there are evidently some principles in his nature, which interest him in the fortune of others, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-smith/how-selfish-soever-man-may-be-supposed-there-are-evidently-some/) [Adam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-smith/) > [Restoration ecology is experimental science, a science of love and altruism. In its attempts to reverse the processes of ecosystem degradation it runs exactly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-mills/restoration-ecology-is-experimental-science-a-science-of-love-and/) [Stephanie Mills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-mills/) > [“...of all the nonsense that twists the world, the concept of 'altruism' is the worst. People do what they want to do, every time.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/of-all-the-nonsense-that-twists-the-world-the-concept-of-altruism-is/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [“Only a fool would find happiness from an achievement that is detrimental to those he loves.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janvier-chouteu-chando/only-a-fool-would-find-happiness-from-an-achievement-that-is/) [Janvier Chouteu-Chando](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janvier-chouteu-chando/) > [Never insult an alligator until after you have crossed the river.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cordell-hull/never-insult-an-alligator-until-after-you-have-crossed-the-river/) [Cordell Hull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cordell-hull/) > [“…the purpose of life is to nurture joy, which involves those aspects of humanity that enrich the soul.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janvier-chouteu-chando/the-purpose-of-life-is-to-nurture-joy-which-involves-those-aspects-of/) [Janvier Chouteu-Chando](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janvier-chouteu-chando/) > [“Whatever they say about it, but being altruistic is not so simple for everyone. Not to look and sound like despotism, altruism must be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lara-biyuts/whatever-they-say-about-it-but-being-altruistic-is-not-so-simple-for/) [Lara Biyuts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lara-biyuts/) > [Effective altruism is the form of altruism in which we bring our rational capacities to bear in order to do the most good that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-singer/effective-altruism-is-the-form-of-altruism-in-which-we-bring-our/) [Peter Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-singer/) > [“Societies and people that come close to being happy are those that do well in narrowing the disparity between their desires and their needs,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janvier-chouteu-chando/societies-and-people-that-come-close-to-being-happy-are-those-that-do/) [Janvier Chouteu-Chando](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janvier-chouteu-chando/) > [“Most of the truly kind people of this world show some measure of discomfort when offered kindness. Their gratitude stems not only from their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janvier-chouteu-chando/most-of-the-truly-kind-people-of-this-world-show-some-measure-of/) [Janvier Chouteu-Chando](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janvier-chouteu-chando/) [Browse all 419 Altruism quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/altruism/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When we see social relationships controlled everywhere by the principles which Jesus illustrated in life -- trust, love, mercy, and altruism -- then we shall know that the kingdom of God is here.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Martin Luther King, Jr" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/when-we-see-social-relationships-controlled-everywhere-by-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Altruism" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/when-we-see-social-relationships-controlled-everywhere-by-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e4a/martin-luther-king-jr-127_altruism_when-we-see-social-relationships-control_732246.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e4a/martin-luther-king-jr-127_altruism_when-we-see-social-relationships-control_732246.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e4a/martin-luther-king-jr-127_altruism_when-we-see-social-relationships-control_732246.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When we see social relationships controlled everywhere by the principles which Jesus illustrated in life…” — Martin Luther King, Jr", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Martin Luther King, Jr", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "When we see social relationships controlled...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/when-we-see-social-relationships-controlled-everywhere-by-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/when-we-see-social-relationships-controlled-everywhere-by-the/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```