As we honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., his powerful words continue to inspire and motivate us towards a better future. Here are the top 99 quotes from Dr. King on the theme of “Content of Character”:
1. “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.”
2. “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.”
3. “The time is always right to do what is right.”
4. “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”
5. “We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools.”
6. “The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character – that is the goal of true education.”
7. “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”
8. “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.”
9. “Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase.”
10. “If you can’t fly then run, if you can’t run then walk, if you can’t walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward.”
11. “The true neighbor will risk his position, his prestige and even his life for the welfare of others.”
12. “I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality.”
13. “We must use time creatively, in the knowledge that the time is always ripe to do right.”
14. “The quality, not the longevity, of one’s life is what is important.”
15. “I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear.”
16. “The ultimate tragedy is not the oppression and cruelty by the bad people but the silence over that by the good people.”
17. “There comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular, but he must take it because conscience tells him it is right.”
18. “We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope.”
19. “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?'”
20. “Freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed.”
21. “The time is always right to do what is right.”
22. “We must live together as brothers or perish together as fools.”
23. “The means by which we achieve justice is just as important as the end.”
24. “Nonviolence is a powerful and just weapon. It is a weapon unique in history, which cuts without wounding and ennobles the man who wields it.”
25. “Let no man pull you so low as to hate him.”
26. “We must develop and maintain the capacity to forgive. He who is devoid of the power to forgive is devoid of the power to love.”
27. “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.”
28. “Our scientific power has outrun our spiritual power. We have guided missiles and misguided men.”
29. “An individual has not started living until he can rise above the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity.”
30. “The first question which the priest and the Levite asked was: ‘If I stop to help this man, what will happen to me?’ But… the good Samaritan reversed the question: ‘If I do not stop to help this man, what will happen to him?'”
31. “I submit to you that if a man hasn’t discovered something he will die for, he isn’t fit to live.”
32. “The time is always right to do what is right.”
33. “We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools.”
34. “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”
35. “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.”
36. “I have a dream that one day little black boys and girls will be holding hands with little white boys and girls.”
37. “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”
38. “Our scientific power has outrun our spiritual power. We have guided missiles and misguided men.”
39. “If you can’t fly then run, if you can’t run then walk, if you can’t walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward.”
40. “I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear.”
41. “We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope.”
42. “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.”
43. “The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character – that is the goal of true education.”
44. “Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase.”
45. “The quality, not the longevity, of one’s life is what is important.”
46. “We must use time creatively, in the knowledge that the time is always ripe to do right.”
47. “The true neighbor will risk his position, his prestige and even his life for the welfare of others.”
48. “I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality.”
49. “Nonviolence is a powerful and just weapon. It is a weapon unique in history, which cuts without wounding and ennobles the man who wields it.”
50. “Freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed.”
51. “The means by which we achieve justice is just as important as the end.”
52. “Let no man pull you so low as to hate him.”
53. “We must develop and maintain the capacity to forgive. He who is devoid of the power to forgive is devoid of the power to love.”
54. “An individual has not started living until he can rise above the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity.”
55. “The first question which the priest and the Levite asked was: ‘If I stop to help this man, what will happen to me?’ But… the good Samaritan reversed the question: ‘If I do not stop to help this man, what will happen to him?'”
56. “I submit to you that if a man hasn’t discovered something he will die for, he isn’t fit to live.”
57. “The time is always right to do what is right.”
58. “We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools.”
59. “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”
60. “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.”
61. “I have a dream that one day little black boys and girls will be holding hands with little white boys and girls.”
62. “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”
63. “Our scientific power has outrun our spiritual power. We have guided missiles and misguided men.”
64. “If you can’t fly then run, if you can’t run then walk, if you can’t walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward.”
65. “I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear.”
66.
Mlk Quotes Content Of Character Inspiration from lesbijek.org
