A Dream That Changed The World: 20 Timeless Martin Luther King Jr. Quotes

Jan 15

By Tonia Patterson // Historical Figures // EEW Magazine Online

As EEW Magazine Online honors the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., we reflect on the extraordinary life and mission of a man whose voice became a pivotal force in the civil rights movement and continues to echo the aspirations of equality and justice across generations.

Dr. King, a Baptist minister and non-violent activist, led a revolution of conscience that challenged America to live up to its creed that all men are created equal.

Through his eloquence and passionate belief in non-violent protest, he was not only a leader for African Americans but an emblem of hope and resilience for all who were, and still are, oppressed. His mission was rooted in his faith, which guided his vision for a world where love overcame hate, and peace replaced strife.

Martin Luther King Jr. waves to civil rights supporters in Washington, D.C., during the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, where King delivered his “I Have a Dream” speech on Aug. 28, 1963. (AFP via Getty Images)

As we celebrate Dr. King's enduring influence on society, EEW Online is highlighting 20 of his most powerful quotes that serve as guiding lights for justice, faith, and love.

"I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear." - Dr. King’s speech in Atlanta, Georgia, on July 16, 1967.

"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." - Letter from Birmingham Jail, April 16, 1963.

"The time is always right to do what is right." - Oberlin College commencement speech, June 1965.

"Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that." - 'Strength to Love', 1963.

"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter." - 'I Have a Dream' speech, Washington D.C., August 28, 1963.

"Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase." - Sermon at Dexter Avenue Baptist Church, 1957.

"Life's most persistent and urgent question is, 'What are you doing for others?'" - Montgomery, Alabama, 1957.

"I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low." - 'I Have a Dream' speech, Washington D.C., August 28, 1963.

"Freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed." - Letter from Birmingham Jail, April 16, 1963.

"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy." - 'Strength to Love', 1963.

"We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope." - Speech in Washington D.C., 1968.

"Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into a friend." - Sermon at Dexter Avenue Baptist Church, 1957.

"We must build dikes of courage to hold back the flood of fear." - 'Strength to Love', 1963.

"Change does not roll in on the wheels of inevitability, but comes through continuous struggle." - 'Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community?', 1967.

"Nonviolence is the answer to the crucial political and moral questions of our time." - Nobel Lecture, December 11, 1964.

"We are not makers of history. We are made by history." - 'Strength to Love', 1963.

"Intelligence plus character — that is the goal of true education." - 'The Purpose of Education' in the Morehouse College student newspaper, The Maroon Tiger, 1947.

"A genuine leader is not a searcher for consensus but a molder of consensus." - Speech in Washington D.C., 1968.

"Every man must decide whether he will walk in the light of creative altruism or in the darkness of destructive selfishness." - 'Strength to Love', 1963.

"Peace is not merely a distant goal that we seek, but a means by which we arrive at that goal." - Oberlin College commencement speech, June 1965.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s words transcend time and continue to inspire action and hope. As we remember and celebrate his life and accomplishments, let us also commit to carrying forward the torch of justice, equality, and love that he held so high. Let us each, in our own ways, continue to dream and work towards the beloved community that Dr. King envisioned for all of God's children.