Martin Luther King Jr. Quotes Still Inspiring: 'Faith Is Taking First Step Even When You Don't See Whole Staircase'

By Julie Brown Patton
Martin Luther King Jr.

Martin Luther King Jr., an American Baptist minister, activist, humanitarian and leader in the African-American Civil Rights Movement, is being honored Monday (Jan. 18) via a national holiday. Many people still turn to his insightful quotes for inspiration and providing examples of how to better live together in harmony.

He was born Jan. 15, 1929, and died April 4, 1968. Some of those favorite quotes include the following:

"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."

"Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase."

"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter."

"Life's most persistent and urgent question is, 'What are you doing for others?'"

"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere."

"I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear."

"In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends."

"We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools."

"Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into friend."

"Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that."

On Aug. 28, 1963, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his iconic "I Have a Dream" speech. 

On the rationalization of slavery, from his 1963 collection of sermons"Strength to Love" he said:  "Nothing in all the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity."

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