I cannot sit idly by in Atlanta and not be concerned about what happens in Birmingham.

[nonviolence] seeks to secure moral ends through moral means.

The sweltering summer of the Negro's legitimate discontent will not pass until there is an invigorating autumn of freedom and equality.

I refuse to accept the view that mankind is so tragically bound to the starless midnight of racism and war that the bright daybreak of peace and brotherhood can never become a reality... I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word.

I guess one of the great agonies of life is that we are constantly trying to finish that which is unfinishable

Everyone can be great, because everyone can serve.

If I hit you and you hit me and I hit you back and you hit me back and go on, you see, that goes on ad infinitum. It just never ends. Somewhere somebody must have a little sense, and that's the strong person.