As we watch Red states and Republican legislatures enact voter suppression laws all over the country and white nationalism groups come out of obscurity into the light of day I am worried. I’m worried for our country and I’m worried for democracy. As we all celebrate and honor the life and legacy of MLK, I found this very inspiring and uplifting article at Biography.com and I wanted to pass it along.
The article highlights 17 inspiring quotes from various speeches and public comments over the course of his life and career. Here are three that I found particularly uplifting to me…
Science investigates; religion interprets. Science gives man knowledge, which is power; religion gives man wisdom, which is control. Science deals mainly with facts; religion deals mainly with values. The two are not rivals.
“A Tough Mind and a Tender Heart” sermon, August 30, 1959
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All we say to America is, ‘Be true to what you said on paper.’ If I lived in China or even Russia, or any totalitarian country, maybe I could understand the denial of certain basic First Amendment privileges, because they hadn’t committed themselves to that over there. But somewhere I read of the freedom of assembly. Somewhere I read of the freedom of speech. Somewhere I read of the freedom of the press. Somewhere I read that the greatness of America is the right to protest for right.
“I’ve Been to the Mountaintop” speech, April 3, 1968
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Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.
“Letter from Birmingham Jail,” April 16, 1963
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If you’d like to read all 17 quotes and read more about the life and legacy of Dr. King you can do so by clicking the button below.