martin luther king, jr.

11 Things: Martin Luther King Jr.

Thursday, January 11, 2007

1. On society: "The hope of a secure and livable world lies with disciplined non-conformists who are dedicated to justice, peace and brotherhood." Strength to Love, 1963.

2. On law: "I submit that an individual who breaks a law that conscience tells him is unjust, and who willingly accepts the penalty of imprisonment in order to arouse the conscience of the community over its injustice, is in reality expressing the highest respect for the law." Letter From Birmingham Jail, 4/16/63.

3. On righteousness: "I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality. That is why right, temporarily defeated, is stronger than evil triumphant." Accepting Nobel Peace Prize, 12/10/64.

4. On understanding: "Shallow understanding from people of good will is more frustrating than absolute misunderstanding from people of ill will." Letter From Birmingham Jail, 4/16/63.

5. On ignorance: "Nothing in all the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity." Strength to Love, 1963.

6. On salvation: "Human salvation lies in the hands of the creatively maladjusted." Strength to Love, 1963.

7. On riots: "A riot is the language of the unheard." Address given in Birmingham, Ala., 12/31/63.

8. On injustice: "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." Letter from Birmingham Jail, 4/16/63.

9. On success: "Success, recognition and conformity are the bywords of the modern world where everyone seems to crave the anesthetizing security of being identified with the majority." Strength to Love, 1963.

10. On life: "If a man hasn't discovered something that he will die for, he isn't fit to live." Speech in Detroit, 6/23/63.

11. On silence: "Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter." Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., 1/15/29-4/4/68.

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