Quote

The ultimate weakness of violence is that it is a descending spiral, begetting the very thing it seeks to destroy. Instead of diminishing evil, it multiplies it.

Martin Luther King, Jr.

Change background

T
T
T

Change font

TAGS & TOPICS

Martin Luther King, Jr.
Age: 39 †
Born: 1929
Born: January 15
Died: 1968
Died: April 4
Civil Rights Advocate
Human Rights Activist
Humanitarian
Leader
Minister
Pacifist
Pastor
Peace Activist
Politician
Preacher
Theologian
Atlanta
Georgia
MLK
Martin Luther King
Dr. King
Michael King
Michael King Jr.
M.L. King
Martin Luther
Jr. King
Martin Luther King
Jr.
Peace
Seeks
Evil
Destroy
Thing
Hatred
Begetting
Weakness
Multiplies
Kings
Diminishing
Ultimate
Spiral
Instead
Spirals
Violence
Descending

More quotes by Martin Luther King, Jr.

Image
I say to you today, my friends, so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Image
This business of burning human beings with napalm, of filling our nation's homes with orphans and widows, of injecting poisonous drugs of hate into veins of peoples normally humane, of sending men home from dark and bloody battlefields physically handicapped and psychologically deranged, cannot be reconciled with wisdom, justice and love.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Image
We are not makers of history. We are made by history.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Image
Brutality was imprisoned in a lumious glare revealing the naked truth to the whole world
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Image
[Malcolm X] had said a great deal about nonviolence, criticizing nonviolence, and saying that I approved of Negro men and women being bitten by dogs and the fire hoses, and I say, say go on and not defend yourself. I think this kind of response grew out of the build up, all of the talk about my being a sort of polished Uncle Tom.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Image
History will have to record that the greatest tragedy of this period of social transition was not the strident clamor of the bad people, but the appalling silence of the good people.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Image
Injustice anywhere threatens justice everywhere.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Image
If you want to be important-wonderful. If you want to be recognized-wonderful. If you want to be great-wonderful. But recognize that he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. That's a new definition of greatness.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Image
Vanity asks, is it popular? Politics ask, will it work? But conscience and morality ask, is it right?
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Image
Don't let anybody take your manhood.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Image
The true neighbor will risk his position, his prestige, and even his life for the welfare of others.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Image
One of the great liabilities of history is that all too many people fail to remain awake through great periods of social change.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Image
Certainly I'm not saying that you sit down and patiently accept injustice. I'm talking about a very strong force, where you stand up with all your might against an evil system, and you are not a coward.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Image
Now let us begin. Now let us rededicate ourselves to the long and bitter, but beautiful, struggle for a new world. This is the calling of the sons of God, and our brothers wait eagerly for our response. Shall we say the odds are too great? Shall we tell them the struggle is too hard?
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Image
The problem with hatred and violence is that they intensity the fears of the white majority, and leave them less ashamed of their prejudices toward Negroes.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Image
Means we use must be as pure as the ends we seek.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Image
I've always tried to be what I call militantly nonviolent. I don't believe that anyone could seriously accuse me of not being totally committed to the breakdown of segregation.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Image
You're as good as anybody.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Image
White man and black man, jew and gentile, protestant and catholic, will be able to hold hands and sing in the words of the ancient negro spiritual, Free at last, free at last. Thank God almighty! We are free at last!
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Image
I would not hesitate to say that it is unfortunate that so-called demonstrations are taking place in Birmingham at this time, but I would say in more emphatic terms that it is even more unfortunate that the white power structure of this city left the Negro community with no other alternative.
Martin Luther King, Jr.