Quote By Martin Luther King Jr.

Freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed.

Civil Rights Leader, Baptist Minister and Political Philosopher

Born: January 15, 1929

Died: April 4, 1968

Martin Luther King Jr was a Baptist minister and leader in the American civil rights movement. Known for his "I Have a Dream" speech and nonviolent protests, he advocated for racial equality and justice until his assassination in 1968.

Explanation Of The Quote

This quote highlights that genuine freedom and rights are not gifts or concessions from those in power but must be actively and persistently sought by those who are oppressed. Martin Luther King Jr. underscores the necessity of demanding change and rights rather than waiting for them to be given.

More Quotes By Martin Luther King Jr.

A genuine leader is not a searcher for consensus but a molder of consensus.

Martin Luther King Jr.

Everybody can be great... because anybody can serve. You don't have to have a college degree to serve. You don't have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love.

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There comes a time when silence is betrayal.

Martin Luther King Jr.

We must build dikes of courage to hold back the flood of fear.

Martin Luther King Jr.

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.

Martin Luther King Jr.

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

Martin Luther King Jr.

I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality. This is why right, temporarily defeated, is stronger than evil triumphant.

Martin Luther King Jr.

We must live together as brothers or perish together as fools.

Martin Luther King Jr.

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.

Martin Luther King Jr.

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.

Martin Luther King Jr.

Nothing in all the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity.

Martin Luther King Jr.

The ultimate tragedy is not the oppression and cruelty by the bad people but the silence over that by the good people.

Martin Luther King Jr.