The greatness of man cannot be seen in the hours of comfort and convenience, but rather in moments of conflict/adversity

I'm grateful to God that, through the Negro church, the dimension of nonviolence entered our struggle.

Everyone can be great, because everyone can serve.

We must all learn to live together as brothers. Or we will all perish together as foolsFor some strange reason I can never be what I ought to be until you are what you ought to be. And you can never be what you ought to be until I am what I ought to be.

There is little hope for us until we become tough-minded enough to break loose from the shackles of prejudice, half-truths, and downright ignorance. The shape of the world today does not permit us the luxury of soft mindedness. A nation or a civilization that continues to produce soft minded men purchases its own spiritual death on an installment plan.

I came to the conclusion that there is an existential moment in your life when you must decide to speak for yourself; nobody else can speak for you.

Our destiny is tied up with the destiny of America.