What's Your Dream? MLK Quotes

To celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s enduring and powerful message of peace and acceptance, here are some of his wise words. Which quote is most powerful for you?

We must come to see that peace is not merely a distant goal that we seek, but a means by which we arrive at that goal. We must pursue peaceful ends through peaceful means.

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

From every mountainside, let freedom ring. When we let freedom ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God’s children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual, “Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!

Faith is taking the first step even when you can’t see the whole staircase.

Never, never be afraid to do what’s right, especially if the well-being of a person or animal is at stake. Society’s punishments are small compared to the wounds we inflict on our soul when we look the other way.

The choice is not between violence and nonviolence but between nonviolence and nonexistence.

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.

In honor of MLK, please share your dream for the future in the comments.

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Sean C.

6:59PM PDT on May 8, 2012

Thank you.

send a green star

Danuta W.

11:55PM PST on Dec 18, 2011

Great article!

Linda E.

10:49PM PDT on May 9, 2011

Thank you for the inspiration. These quotes are every bit as relevant today as the day he said them (except when he said "...black men and white men..." and left us out).

Danny M.

7:05AM PDT on Apr 18, 2011

Thanks!

Patrizia F.

7:35AM PST on Mar 6, 2011

Eternal G.

5:22PM PST on Feb 23, 2011

I have a dream that humanity finally wakes up!

Bon L.

4:33AM PST on Feb 3, 2011

Thanks for the info.

Vera Y.