Written by Today, we are going to discuss 10 of my favorite Martin Luther King, Jr. quotes. I find them thought-provoking and I’m hoping you do too. Share in the comments your favorite MLK quotes.
(1) We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope.
Anytime that you are trying to go in a different direction, it tends to result in short-term failure. As a result, it becomes important to accept the fact that you’re going to deal with setbacks and challenges. There are going to be difficult times. Some days you’re going to wake up and have great days. Where you wake up, you run, you exercise, you meditate, and you are crushing it on every level. And then you have other days where you push snooze a handful of times and the next thing you know, you feel rushed throughout the day. Don’t beat yourself up on your bad days. Bad days are a part of life and help us to appreciate the good days.
(2) Darkness cannot drive out darkness. Only light can do. Hate cannot drive out Hate, only love can do that.
This is one of my favorite quotes. You cannot change the world without first being the change you want to see. We cannot withhold kindness until someone “deserves” it. The good book talks about a tax collector being kind to people who are kind to them. It is not a big deal to be kind to someone who is kind to you.
If you want to do something amazing, be kind to those who mistreat you. It is a simply concept, but a powerful one. Before you ask, no one is telling you to be a push-over and allow others to mistreat you. We are talking about maintaining a standard regardless of who you are dealing with.
(3) Forgiveness is not an occasional act, It is a permanent attitude.
If I am going to tell someone, I will forgive you, ”only if” and then have a laundry list of stuff that they need to do… I am not forgiving someone in the true sense of the word.
You may feel like no one should be forgiven unless they show some remorse. And while I can appreciate that, I do think that ultimately forgiveness is just like happiness. It’s just a choice that we make. If you want to forgive someone, choose to forgive. If you don’t want to forgive someone, then choose not to forgive them. Don’t make someone jump through hoops to earn your forgiveness.
MLK is right that forgiveness is not an occasional act. It is a choice you make to forgive someone.
(4) I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great of a burden to bear.
MLK was dealing with death threats, mistreatment and unspeakable evil. He had people burning crosses in his yard, trying to poison him with poisoned darts, bombing his house and beating him. It’s very reasonable to feel resentment toward those who persecute you. MLK felt it was still a choice or how to respond and he chose to stick with love.
He is saying that the burden of hate is so heavy, that love is still the easier choice.
(5) Faith is taking the first step, even when you don’t see the whole staircase.
Your faith is just like walking through a fog. You can’t see through the fog, but every time you take a step, you can see another foot clear up. Each step you take, another step you can see in front of you. Faith is understanding that with every step that you take, you’re going to have a little bit more clarity and see a little bit further.
Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase. You don’t really know what’s going to happen after you take the first step, but every step you take builds a little bit more confidence. A little bit more faith, and a little bit more courage… but you have to take the first step.
(6) Life’s most persistent and urgent question is… what are you doing for others?
I’m just going to let this quote sit there for a second. What are you doing for others? I believe entrepreneurship is a gift that gives us a chance to change the world. That is one of the many reasons I love entrepreneurs. It’s why I encourage you to engage in entrepreneurship. Entrepreneurship is this idea there is a problem in the world and you are going to solve it. Now you do solve the problem for a profit.
The world is happy you created your company. It is thankful you are solving a problem and making their life easier. Now, you don’t have to change the world. It always starts at home. How can we help those we love? Then, we can move out to our neighborhood and community. Can we help the kids in our neighborhood get school supplies? Could we make a meal for someone who just lost a loved one? There are many ways we can touch the lives of those around us.
(7) Never succumb to the temptation of bitterness.
If anyone knows, MLK knows what is like to allow the world to dim your light. He was dealing with so much hate and animosity that one can only image the impact. At the end of the day, hurt people, hurt people. When someone hurts you, it is natural to want to retaliate. We need them to know how much it hurt us. MLK felt it was our duty to “never” give in to bitterness. He likely believed nothing good could come from it. Instead, stay focused on your goal and how wonderful it will feel once you accomplish it.
(8) Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.
I believe we all want to be accepted for who we are. The problem is many people aren’t willing to show their true selves. We hide our passions because we don’t want to ruffle any feathers. I encourage you to be you. Don’t be silent about things that matter to you. You’ll find that you’re often creating a small prison in your own life. Where you’re surrounding yourself with people who believe you share the same beliefs. When you express yourself, you will attract the right people and repel the others.
(9) We may have all come on different ships, but we’re in the same boat now.
Here, MLK is saying that we’re better together. We are stronger together and we can accomplish more together than separate. There is an African proverb, “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together”. While we can accomplish great feats alone. Our true strength comes out when we work together. Build a community that wants to make the world a better place.
(10) The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of discomfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.
You are who you are when nobody is looking. When people are looking and you feel compelled to do something, that does not define you. Think of a politician aligning with the polls of the day. Or volunteering their time for a photo opportunity.
When things are easy and going well, it’s easy to be happy and considerate. However, when things are difficult and challenging, who we are shines through. Are you willing to sacrifice convenience to do what you believe is right? For many, that answer is no. We want to be more, but the price cannot be too steep. MLK was willing to give up everything for what he believed. His willingness to sacrifice so much is why he is celebrated to this day.
Final thoughts
Each of Martin Luther King’s quotes are powerful. They are reminders of the person we are all striving to be. MLK focuses on honesty, compassion and a commitment to do the right thing. Which quote was your favorite? Did I even list your favorite quote in my top 10 Martin Luther king, Jr. quotes? If not, that’s okay. Share your favorite quote in the comments below.
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