If an American, because his skin is dark, cannot eat lunch in a restaurant open to the public, if he cannot send his children to the best public school available, if he cannot vote for the public officials who represent him, if, in short, he cannot enjoy the full and free life which all of us want, then who among us would be content to have the color of his skin changed and stand in his place? Who among us would then be content with the counsels of patience and delay?

We have all seen these circus elephants complete with tusks, ivory in their head and thick skins, who move around the circus ring and grab the tail of the elephant ahead of them.

No government or social system is so evil that its people must be considered as lacking in virtue.

So, let us not be blind to our differences - but let us also direct attention to our common interests and to the means by which those differences can be resolved.

It is an unfortunate fact that we can secure peace only by preparing for war.

The problem of power is how to achieve its responsible use rather than its irresponsible and indulgent use; of how to get men of power to live for the public rather than off the public.

The margin is narrow, but the responsibility is clear.