In celebration of Martin Luther King day, 12 quotes on taking a kinder path for freedom, for peace and for love, from the man himself…
As my sufferings mounted I soon realized that there were two ways in which I could respond to my situation — either to react with bitterness or seek to transform the suffering into a creative force. I decided to follow the latter course.
Returning violence for violence multiplies violence, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.
Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into a friend.
There is some good in the worst of us and some evil in the best of us. When we discover this, we are less prone to hate our enemies.
Forgiveness does not mean ignoring what has been done or putting a false label on an evil act. It means, rather, that the evil act no longer remains as a barrier to the relationship. Forgiveness is a catalyst creating the atmosphere necessary for a fresh start and a new beginning.
You can have no influence over those for whom you have underlying contempt.
The past is prophetic in that it asserts loudly that wars are poor chisels for carving out peaceful tomorrows.
The oceans of history are made turbulent by the ever-rising tides of hate. History is cluttered with the wreckage of nations and individuals that pursued this self-defeating path of hate. Love is the key to the solution of the problems of the world.
If you succumb to the temptation of using violence in the struggle, unborn generations will be the recipients of a long and desolate night of bitterness, and your chief legacy to the future will be an endless reign of meaningless chaos.
The ultimate weakness of violence is that it is a descending spiral, begetting the very thing it seeks to destroy. Instead of diminishing evil, it multiplies it.
Hate is too great a burden to bear. I have decided to love.
We will not build a peaceful world by following a negative path. It is not enough to say “We must not wage war.” It is necessary to love peace and sacrifice for it. We must concentrate not merely on the negative expulsion of war, but on the positive affirmation of peace.
Martin Luther King was a prominent civil rights leader and activist. Advocating non-violence. Committed to freedom, peace and love.
An inspiration x
To read more of Martin Luther King’s words…
Letter from a Birmingham Jail April 1963
‘I Have a Dream’ Speech, March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom August 1963
Martin Luther King Jr, Noble Prize speech December 1964
And for more quotes on freedom, peace and love…
9 Sandra Dodd quotes on parenting that rocked my world
12 John Holt quotes on home education and our role as parents
Parenting with kindness to save the human race
Enjoy x
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