The Negro cannot win the respect of his oppressor by acquiescing; he merely increases the oppressor's arrogance and contempt.

This is the unusual thing about nonviolence -- nobody is defeated, everybody shares in the victory.

But I know, somehow, that only when it is dark enough, can you see the stars.

Even if I were certain that the world would end tomorrow, I would plant a tree this very day

We will have to repent in this generation not merely for the vitriolic words and actions of the bad people, but for the appalling silence of the good people.

We have a great dream. It started way back in 1776, and God grant that America will be true to her dream.

We aren't going to have peace on Earth until we recognize the basic fact of the interrelated structure of all reality.